Zenith - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII Hong Kong Friday, May 24, 2024 | Phillips

Create your first list.

Select an existing list or create a new list to share and manage lots you follow.

  • Condition Report

  • Description

    View our Conditions of Sale.

  • Manufacturer: Zenith
    Year: Circa 1971
    Reference No: A3817, inner caseback stamped “SP 1301”
    Case No: 232E132
    Model Name: El Primero
    Material: Stainless steel
    Calibre: Automatic cal. 3019PHC, 31 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Zenith Gay Frères ladder bracelet, endlinks stamped “ZKM”, max length 195mm
    Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel Zenith deployant clasp stamped “4. 71”
    Dimensions: 37mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

  • Catalogue Essay

    The Zenith El Primero is undoubtedly a legendary automatic chronograph movement introduced in 1969. It is renowned as one of the first automatic chronograph movements ever created, marking a significant milestone in the history of watchmaking. Not only was it designed to be highly accurate and precise, but it also represented a breakthrough in horology with its high frequency of 36,000 VPH. The El Primero caliber 3019PHC, in particular, is highly regarded for its exceptional quality and performance. Interestingly, the El Primero movement even served as the base caliber for Rolex's first self-winding chronograph, which was used in the iconic Daytona reference 16520 introduced in 1988.

    Amongst the vintage era, the round-shaped El Primero A386 is the most recognized reference. However, its sister reference, the A3817, is considered even rarer than the A386, with an estimated production of only 1,000 pieces. The case of the A3817 showcases angular and sculpted design elements that were popular during its production period, while the dial features a combination of colors, with subsidiary dials in blue, light grey, and anthracite. The subdial at 9 o'clock stands out with a unique blue hand and blue indexes, creating a subtle contrast against the light grey register. This vibrant dial design represented a departure from the more subdued aesthetics of the 40s and 50s, offering a modern and colorful look for sports watches.

    The present example is exceptionally well-preserved, which is remarkable considering its age of over 50 years. The engraving "SP 1301" on the inner caseback refers to the casemaker Spillman, denoted by "SP". It is also accompanied by its original "ZKM" endlinks and features the highly desirable original-styled Gay Frères ladder bracelet, stamped for the fourth quarter of 1971. With its exceptional condition and originality, this watch possesses all the qualities sought after by collectors, making it a highly collectible vintage Zenith timepiece.

  • Artist Biography

    Zenith

    Swiss • 1865

    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.

    View More Works

913

Ref. A3817, inner caseback stamped “SP 1301”
An extremely attractive, rare and well-preserved stainless steel chronograph wristwatch with date, pulsations and tachymeter scale, tri-color registers and Gay Frères bracelet

Circa 1971
37mm diameter
Case, dial, movement, bracelet and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$80,000 - 160,000 
€9,600-19,200
$10,300-20,500

Place Advance Bid
Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Deputy Chairman, Watches, Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2031
WatchesHK@phillips.com
 

Gertrude Wong
Head of Sale, Hong Kong
+ 852 2318 2045
gertrudewong@phillips.com
 

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVIII

Hong Kong Auction 24 - 25 May 2024