103rd Auction
2020/11/7
Lot 187
Zenith, Le Locle, Swiss, "Chronograph Automatic El Primero", Case No. 903D862, Ref. A384, Cal. 3019PHC, 37 x 46 mm, circa 1971
A legendary vintage automatic wrist chronograph with date and tachy scale
Case: steel, screw back, folded Zenith/Gay Frères steel bracelet, stamped 1/71, bracelet length 155 mm, total length 195 mm. Dial: silvered, sub dials and tachy scale in black.
Only 3,850 of this Zenith "Chronograph Automatic El Primero" reference A384 were produced between 1969 and 1972. The watch was fitted with the novel calibre 3019 PHC and certainly one of that prestigious range of very first automatic chronographs.
The 37 mm steel case features two large chronograph pushers and the original, typical Zenith fluted crown. The two-coloured dial has a charming patina and the subsidiary dials as well as the tachymeter scale time have acquired a brownish hue over the years; the luminous material has darkened a little. The watch also boasts the red paddle chronograph hand, which was very popular with Zenith El Primero watches at the time.
Inside sits the legendary El Primero 3019 PHC high-beat calibre Zenith launched in 1969 as one of the first ever automatic chronograph movement, thus laying the foundation for the El Primero range of movements. The automatic movement beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour, allowing a measurement accurate to one tenth of a second and making the El Primero the most accurate serial production watch movement in the world to this day.
A legendary vintage automatic wrist chronograph with date and tachy scale
Case: steel, screw back, folded Zenith/Gay Frères steel bracelet, stamped 1/71, bracelet length 155 mm, total length 195 mm. Dial: silvered, sub dials and tachy scale in black.
Only 3,850 of this Zenith "Chronograph Automatic El Primero" reference A384 were produced between 1969 and 1972. The watch was fitted with the novel calibre 3019 PHC and certainly one of that prestigious range of very first automatic chronographs.
The 37 mm steel case features two large chronograph pushers and the original, typical Zenith fluted crown. The two-coloured dial has a charming patina and the subsidiary dials as well as the tachymeter scale time have acquired a brownish hue over the years; the luminous material has darkened a little. The watch also boasts the red paddle chronograph hand, which was very popular with Zenith El Primero watches at the time.
Inside sits the legendary El Primero 3019 PHC high-beat calibre Zenith launched in 1969 as one of the first ever automatic chronograph movement, thus laying the foundation for the El Primero range of movements. The automatic movement beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour, allowing a measurement accurate to one tenth of a second and making the El Primero the most accurate serial production watch movement in the world to this day.
Sold
estimated
1.800—4.500 €
Price realized
12.500 €