Manufacturer: Zenith Year: 2019 Reference No: 30.P386.400/27.C841 Movement No: 644'244 Case No: 551'031 Model Name: El Primero A386 for Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo Material: 18k yellow gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. El Primero 400, 31 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Leather Clasp/Buckle: 18k yellow gold Zenith pin buckle Dimensions: 38mm Diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed Accessories: Accompanied by Zenith International Warranty dated February 2020, fitted box, USB key, polishing cloth, travel pouch and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
In 2019 Phillips was approached by Zenith to design a unique El Primero reference A386 in celebration of the caliber’s 50th anniversary. The result was a platinum chronograph with lapis lazuli dial, sold at auction for CHF 250,000 and whose proceeds went to charity.
During the creative process, the team at Phillips Watches also designed two limited edition models, one in stainless steel with “terracotta” colored subdials limited to 49 pieces and the present example in yellow gold with black dial limited to only 20 pieces.
The goal for the design team was not to recreate an existing model but to imagine being designers of the new, to be launched, G381 with El Primero movement in 1969. The result is a watch that has its roots firmly set in 1969 but with a modern flair. It is both flamboyant and retrained. No detail has been left unexplored, whether be it the color of the luminous material, the printing on the dial and even the color of the date disc. As a tribute to the original G381 the dial only features the brand name and El Primero.
In overall excellent condition and accompanied by box and guarantee the present watch offers the rare opportunity to acquire a piece that sold out in less than 20 minutes after its launch.
Since Zenith's beginnings, founder George Favre-Jacot sought to manufacture precision timepieces, realizing quality control was best maintained when production was housed under one roof. Zenith remains one of the few Swiss manufacturers to produce their own in-house movements to this day.
Today, the brand is best known for the "El Primero," the firm's most successful automatic chronograph movement. In an interesting twist of fate, the company that owned Zenith during the 1970s decided to move on to quartz movements and therefore sought to destroy the parts and tools necessary to make mechanical movements. One watchmaker realized this folly and hid the tools and parts before they were destroyed. In 1984, he returned them to Zenith so they could once again make the El Primero movement.