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learningtofly · 28 December 2010, 08:09 PM

Quite a while ago, I tried on a white dialled Daytona in the hope that I could see, or feel, the love for this iconic watch when it was on the wrist. Strangely though, I didn't, and I handed the watch back to the dealer assuming that this particular quest had come to an abrupt end. For some reason, however, it wouldn't quite subside; I blame Dan Pierce in part, with his gorgeous photos of various Tudor chronos. In fact, I was inches away from getting a big block not long ago, but - as if fate were looking down on me - I didn't quite get to the point where I could pull the trigger.

My thoughts turned to Zenith, and the historic El Primero movement. Most people will know that for many years Rolex used this movement in their Daytonas, albeit in a slightly modified form. What's less well known, though, is that the Zenith El Primero was actually the world's first automatic chronograph movement, and it was released on an unsuspecting world in 1969. Back then, it looked like this:

So, on to the subject of this post, then. The El Primero Striking 10th really was one of my very few grail watches, but at £7000 I couldn't ever imagine myself buying one. To find one brand new then, and at 50% discount, is simply unheard of; that's precisely what happened on Boxing Day and there was no way I could let the opportunity slip. Yesterday, therefore, I made the short journey into the West End of London and picked up my pride and joy.

What is effectively a reissue of this iconic watch has been made in limited edition of... yes, 1969! This one is actually number 644, and looking at the dial you can see that the original tachymeter has been replaced with a ten-second centre chrono counter. This is to reflect the 10 beats per second/36,000 beats per hour of the movement, and watching the chrono hand sweep around the dial in it's 1/10th of a second increments is a joy. In fact, the watch is a joy in it's entirety, and has taken me a step further in my collection of watches that - in one way or another - are icons.

Anyway, I'll shut up now, and let you enjoy the photos

spuds · 28 December 2010, 08:15 PM

Congratulations!

learningtofly · 28 December 2010, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spuds

Congratulations!

Thanks - still on cloud nine!

dddrees · 28 December 2010, 09:17 PM

Excellent looking watch Tony. Congrats.

esm · 28 December 2010, 09:47 PM

Here is my congrats again Tony. Very envious of you.

Tried the striking 10th and the new vintage 1969 last month and almost pulled the trigger on one of them. Can you imaging paying near £7k to find out they are selling at 50% off a month later?!?

Great looking piece and it us def the best buy of 2010. Huge congrats again.

Now - I'm wondering what this has done to Zenith.....

learningtofly · 28 December 2010, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esm

Here is my congrats again Tony. Very envious of you.

Tried the striking 10th and the new vintage 1969 last month and almost pulled the trigger on one of them. Can you imaging paying near £7k to find out they are selling at 50% off a month later?!?

Great looking piece and it us def the best buy of 2010. Huge congrats again.

Now - I'm wondering what this has done to Zenith.....

Thanks mate - and no, it doesn't bear thinking about

To be fair, I don't think Zenith have ever regulated RRP in the same way as, say, Rolex. These are only sale reductions, but I think that a negotiated discount of 25%-ish would always be available so I doubt very much that the brand has suffered/will suffer at all.

Tell you what though - it's a cracking watch for the money I paid

vukotab · 28 December 2010, 10:48 PM

Really magnificent watch!
El Primero is fantastic movement, I love it`s fast beat!

Big congrats!

Dan Pierce · 28 December 2010, 11:15 PM

I'll gladly take the blame if this is the result!!

What a beauty. I love 2 tone sub dials, gorgeous display back, and historical significant movement.

The El Primero is perfecto!
Love shots of this beauty as well, my friend.

Well done,
dP

learningtofly · 28 December 2010, 11:24 PM

Thanks all. Here's another gratuitous watch-with-vignette shot

asadtiger · 29 December 2010, 02:05 AM

wonderful and truly iconic watch

GerardoG · 29 December 2010, 03:08 AM

Very nice, congrats!

LouS · 30 December 2010, 10:17 AM

Beautiful, equal parts forward looking and retro, and technically impeccable. A real connoisseur's chronograph!

Paracentesis · 30 December 2010, 10:37 AM

Absolutely stunning, I love the El Primero. A far more discerning choice than a Daytona, IMO. Great deal as well.

mike · 30 December 2010, 10:39 AM

What a stunner!!

johnbeth · 30 December 2010, 10:43 AM

What a beauty! Congrats!

sub2004 · 31 December 2010, 02:03 PM

Congratulations, very beautiful watch.

Aivas47a · 2 January 2011, 09:53 AM

Congrats ... cool subdials!

DCgator · 2 January 2011, 10:25 AM

Simply gorgeous! Thanks for sharing...

Andad · 2 January 2011, 10:32 AM

One of the few watches that takes advantage of the 36000 bph movement and gives the wearer a meaningful dial calibration.

Fantastic watch to own given the limited edition status and the technology.

Makes me want to leave my SS Daytona in the box with its 1/8 of a second beat on a 1/5 of a second calibrated dial.

Enjoy wearing it.

learningtofly · 2 January 2011, 10:39 AM

Thank you all very much!

sea-dweller · 2 January 2011, 11:59 AM

Congrats!

al358 · 3 January 2011, 12:48 AM

wow, that watch is truely classic and timeless congratulations

Montexn · 3 January 2011, 04:32 AM

Well done sir and what a bargain you got!! Merry Christmas to you and thank you for the stunning photos...I love the display back and how it shows off the nicely finished El Primero movement.

28 December 2010, 08:09 PM	#1
learningtofly 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Real Name: Tony Location: London, England Watch: Hmmm... Posts: 2,483	A Christmas present to myself! Quite a while ago, I tried on a white dialled Daytona in the hope that I could see, or feel, the love for this iconic watch when it was on the wrist. Strangely though, I didn't, and I handed the watch back to the dealer assuming that this particular quest had come to an abrupt end. For some reason, however, it wouldn't quite subside; I blame Dan Pierce in part, with his gorgeous photos of various Tudor chronos. In fact, I was inches away from getting a big block not long ago, but - as if fate were looking down on me - I didn't quite get to the point where I could pull the trigger. My thoughts turned to Zenith, and the historic El Primero movement. Most people will know that for many years Rolex used this movement in their Daytonas, albeit in a slightly modified form. What's less well known, though, is that the Zenith El Primero was actually the world's first automatic chronograph movement, and it was released on an unsuspecting world in 1969. Back then, it looked like this: So, on to the subject of this post, then. The El Primero Striking 10th really was one of my very few grail watches, but at £7000 I couldn't ever imagine myself buying one. To find one brand new then, and at 50% discount, is simply unheard of; that's precisely what happened on Boxing Day and there was no way I could let the opportunity slip. Yesterday, therefore, I made the short journey into the West End of London and picked up my pride and joy. What is effectively a reissue of this iconic watch has been made in limited edition of... yes, 1969! This one is actually number 644, and looking at the dial you can see that the original tachymeter has been replaced with a ten-second centre chrono counter. This is to reflect the 10 beats per second/36,000 beats per hour of the movement, and watching the chrono hand sweep around the dial in it's 1/10th of a second increments is a joy. In fact, the watch is a joy in it's entirety, and has taken me a step further in my collection of watches that - in one way or another - are icons. Anyway, I'll shut up now, and let you enjoy the photos __________________ Tony

28 December 2010, 08:15 PM	#2
spuds "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Real Name: Dan Location: Essex, UK Watch: West Ham! COYI!! Posts: 7,941	Congratulations! __________________ Onwards & Upwards Rodders...... Onwards & Upwards. Life is not about how fast you can run or how high you can climb........... It's about how well you can bounce!! TRF HALL OF FAME JANUARY 2010

28 December 2010, 10:48 PM	#7
vukotab "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Real Name: Vukota Brajovi Location: Belgrade,Serbia Watch: ing movies! Posts: 3,812	Really magnificent watch! El Primero is fantastic movement, I love it`s fast beat! Big congrats! __________________ My fashion blog and Instagram: https://stylebyvukota.com/ https://instagram.com/vukotabrajovic/

28 December 2010, 11:15 PM	#8
Dan Pierce 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Real Name: D'OH! Location: Kentucky Watch: Rolex-1 Tudor-3 Posts: 36,182	I'll gladly take the blame if this is the result!! What a beauty. I love 2 tone sub dials, gorgeous display back, and historical significant movement. The El Primero is perfecto! Love shots of this beauty as well, my friend. Well done, dP __________________ TRF Member# 1668 Bass Player in TRF "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Band Commander-in-Chief of The Nylon Nation The Crown & Shield Club Honorary Member of P-Club

28 December 2010, 11:24 PM	#9
learningtofly 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Real Name: Tony Location: London, England Watch: Hmmm... Posts: 2,483	Thanks all. Here's another gratuitous watch-with-vignette shot __________________ Tony

28 December 2010, 09:17 PM	#4
dddrees "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Dan Location: USA Watch: This N That Posts: 34,253	Excellent looking watch Tony. Congrats.

28 December 2010, 09:47 PM	#5
esm "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Real Name: Eric Location: Location,Location Watch: this, bro... Posts: 15,340	Here is my congrats again Tony. Very envious of you. Tried the striking 10th and the new vintage 1969 last month and almost pulled the trigger on one of them. Can you imaging paying near £7k to find out they are selling at 50% off a month later?!? Great looking piece and it us def the best buy of 2010. Huge congrats again. Now - I'm wondering what this has done to Zenith.....

29 December 2010, 02:05 AM	#10
asadtiger "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Asad A. Awan Location: kabul, Afghanista Watch: Tissot PRX Posts: 2,698	wonderful and truly iconic watch

29 December 2010, 03:08 AM	#11
GerardoG Banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Real Name: Gerardo Location: Here Watch: ALL of them Posts: 32,098	Very nice, congrats!

30 December 2010, 10:17 AM	#12
LouS "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New York City Watch: GMT II 16710 Black Posts: 142	Beautiful, equal parts forward looking and retro, and technically impeccable. A real connoisseur's chronograph!

30 December 2010, 10:37 AM	#13
Paracentesis Banned Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: James Location: UK Watch: Tissot Posts: 1,454	Absolutely stunning, I love the El Primero. A far more discerning choice than a Daytona, IMO. Great deal as well.

30 December 2010, 10:39 AM	#14
mike "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 22,683	What a stunner!!

30 December 2010, 10:43 AM	#15
johnbeth "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Real Name: John Location: Australia Watch: Depends on mood. Posts: 9,536	What a beauty! Congrats!

31 December 2010, 02:03 PM	#16
sub2004 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: South Pacific Watch: SS Daytona Posts: 643	Congratulations, very beautiful watch.

2 January 2011, 09:53 AM	#17
Aivas47a Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Real Name: Jim Location: Dallas Watch: Love them all Posts: 225	Congrats ... cool subdials!

2 January 2011, 10:25 AM	#18
DCgator "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: PNW Watch: DS,BLNR,SubLV,DJ2 Posts: 8,123	Simply gorgeous! Thanks for sharing...

2 January 2011, 10:32 AM	#19
Andad 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Eddie Location: Australia Watch: A few. Posts: 37,488	One of the few watches that takes advantage of the 36000 bph movement and gives the wearer a meaningful dial calibration. Fantastic watch to own given the limited edition status and the technology. Makes me want to leave my SS Daytona in the box with its 1/8 of a second beat on a 1/5 of a second calibrated dial. Enjoy wearing it. __________________ E

2 January 2011, 10:39 AM	#20
learningtofly 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Real Name: Tony Location: London, England Watch: Hmmm... Posts: 2,483	Thank you all very much! __________________ Tony

2 January 2011, 11:59 AM	#21
sea-dweller "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Dennis Location: Bay Area - 925 Posts: 40,018	Congrats! __________________ TRF Member #6699 (since September 2007)

3 January 2011, 12:48 AM	#22
al358 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: NY, USA Posts: 87	wow, that watch is truely classic and timeless congratulations

3 January 2011, 04:32 AM	#23
Montexn Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Real Name: Richard Location: Montana Watch: All of them Posts: 71	Well done sir and what a bargain you got!! Merry Christmas to you and thank you for the stunning photos...I love the display back and how it shows off the nicely finished El Primero movement.

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