Zenith, El Primero, "High-Beat Collection", chronograph, wristwatch, 38.5 mm

The first integrated, automatic chronograph, featuring start/stop timing to one tenth of a second, the Zenith El Primero

The story of the development of the Zenith El Primero as the first integrated (not modular), automatic chronograph in the late 1960s is now legendary, along with the story of the resurrection of El Primero movement manufacturing in the 1990s. But generally, little attention is paid to the fact that the first El Primero introduced in early 1969 was one of the earliest high-beat watches of any kind, not just the first high-beat chronograph.

As far back as 1962, Zenith considered creating the first automatic chronograph with the aim of launching it in 1965 for the centenary of their Manufacture. Coincident with these plans, between 1966 and 1967 Zenith’s management decided to develop a high-frequency movement oscillating at a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour. According to one employee “In the 1960s, everyone was starting to get into high frequency, so I think that if we wanted to launch something new, we had to aim for the top“. It was the Zenith Chronometry Department, which prepared the parts for the chronometry observatory competitions, that was responsible for the initial research and development of a high-beat movement. The challenge that Zenith set for itself was to create the first ultra-thin, high-frequency integrated automatic chronograph caliber, beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour and thus able to accurately measure one-tenth of a second.

Four years after the 1965 target date for launch, the cal 3019PHC movement oscillating at 36.000 vph was introduced in the first El Primero references A384, A385 and A386. (The cal 3019 movement was also introduced in the affiliated company Movado’s Datron HS360 at around the same time.)

Zenith El-Primero
The watch featured in the High-Beat Collection is the Zenith El Primero ref. A787 with the cal. 3019PHC automatic chronograph movement. This reference was manufactured from 1971-72 in series of 1500 examples. This reference features a white signed dial with no tachymeter scale, center seconds and date function.