The Zenith El Primero G381 meets the most important criteria of a collector's item: historical significance, sophisticated technology, stunning design and rarity.
El Primero means "The First". And that's no coincidence. Released in 1969 it was the first ever chronograph with automatic movement. A notably technical feature of the El Primero is the frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, which was well above the standard of 19,800 in 1960s. The increased frequency improved the accuracy and stability of the watch. It is reported that only 700 exemplars of the G381 were produced between 1969 and 1972. That makes the gold El Primero even rarer than the very coveted reference A386.
The sex appeal of Zenith El Primero in 18k gold is undeniable. The creamy dial with black subsidiary dials create an unique contrast. The design of the watch speaks for itself. It's breathtaking.
The particular El Primero offered here is in a great condition. The massive gold case survived more than 4 decades and still has its sharpness. The lugs and the caseback show minimal, natural signs of wear. The original fluted crown is signed with the NATO star. The pushers are in mint condition. The serial number on the screwed caseback is clearly legible. Even the dial is in a pristine, immaculate condition. Everything from the tachymetric scale to the sub registers preserved fantastic and original. The tritium lume in the hour markers is slightly creamy-yellow patinated and matches the lume color in the hands. The mint automatic movement has a quickset date mechanism, which allows you to adjust the date by simply turning the crown. It is a pleasure to use this watch.
The El Primero G381 is a revolutionary watch with a great history, an unforgettable design and thus an ultimate collector's item.
Serial number: 204EXXX