download zenith el primero 50th anniversary

The challenge that the Manufacture set for itself was to create the first ultra-thin, high-frequency integrated automatic chronograph calibre, beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour and thus able to measure one-tenth of a second. The topic of high frequency was clearly in sync with the times, since it was associated with the idea of precision and often discussed at congresses of chronometry societies, and particularly the Swiss Chronometry Society. It was the Zenith Chronometry Department, which prepared the parts for the chronometry observatory competitions, that was responsible for this research. Nonetheless, there was no question of choosing the easy path by taking an existing calibre and merely adding an additional module: Zenith wanted to use its know-how in the field of research and development.īetween 19 Zenith’s management decided to develop a high-frequency movement oscillating at a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour. There was no automatic chronograph on the market at the time and it would thus be a first.

In 1962, at Zenith, the idea of launching an automatic chronograph to celebrate the centenary of the Manufacture took root.

Winding a crown was regarded as an outdated move, whereas modernity called for efficiency. In 2019, Swiss luxury watch maker Zenith is celebrating 50th anniversary of its legendary El Primero movement that was launched on 10th January 1969 after a full seven years of gestation.Īt the dawn of the 1960s, the watch making context was no longer favourable to hand-wound chronographs as they were conceived at the time.Ĭustomers no longer wanted to operate a crown every – morning to be sure of knowing the exact time, having become accustomed to self-winding movements which meant that all they needed to keep accurate step with time was live, move and work with their timepiece on their wrists.

Download zenith el primero 50th anniversary