101st Auction

2019/11/16

Lot 193

Zenith, Le Locle, "Chronograph Automatic El Primero DEFY", Case No. 50038-10, Ref. 249E755 / 01.0140.415, Cal. 3019PHC, 38 x 45 mm, circa 1971
A vintage automatic wristwatch in near mint condition, with chronograph, tachy scale and date
Case: steel, screwed crown, screw back, Zenith steel bracelet with deployant clasp, bracelet length 150 mm, total length 190 mm. Dial: grey with blue registers and blue tachy scale.
"El Primero surely is one of the best known calibres in the watchmaking industry. Even non-insiders or those who take only a fleeting interest in watches are likely to have heard of El Primero - it is a name that stands for supreme quality chronometers. This should not come as a surprise; it is after all a movement built to meet the requirements for over 40 years. Today’s collectors are particularly keen on the models with featuring 3019. As only small series of the individual models were produced that also had a lot of variants, some watches from this time are almost impossible to find nowadays and the prices asked for them are suitably high."
Source: Manfred Rössler, El Primero - der Chronograph, Forstinning 2015, p. 10f
This is one of the earliest automatic El Primero models dating from the 1970s of which only about 1000 examples were made. The arrangement of the case represents the general taste of the time very well and takes its inspiration from the eccentric, bold design prevailing in that era.
The case is in very good condition, the dial shows a warm grey tone. The tachy scale and the three subsidiary dials are blue and stand out clearly from the background – a very attractive timepiece for those who appreciate rare vintage watches.

Sold

estimated
5.0007.000 €
Price realized
6.300 €