1971 Zenith El Primero Automatic Chronograph Red Dial Stainless Steel A781

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A watch with a STORY to tell! A truly stunning vintage Zenith El Primero Automatic Chronograph just acquired from the family of the original owner who was awarded the watch in 1971 by the Zenith Corporation for outstanding sales of Zenith televisions at the Hudson Bay company of Canada. The owners son recalls sitting around the dinner table in his high school years with his father and the visiting regional sales manager of Zenith at the time, Ralph Bourdeaud'Huy who would frequently repeat Zenith's slogan at the time “The quality goes in before the name goes on" and that certainly shows in this beautiful timepiece. I just love the bold, smoked burgundy/red dial, oversized sub-dials and blue chrono hand housed in such a funky, blocky, built-like-a-tank stainless steel case with awesome Gay Frères bracelet. It is in absolutely gorgeous all original condition and has awesome vintage character, manufactured to the highest quality in every regard. It has just been freshly serviced here at Meticulous, running beautifully with our full 1 year mechanical warranty.

Circa: 1971 (The first year of production with only 1000 examples ever produced)

Style: Sport, Chronograph

Case: Solid stainless steel tonneau shape case measuring 38mm in diameter excluding the original signed screw down crown.  It is in "big block" style with wide flat bezel, deep vertical sides and hidden lugs with and a low dome plexiglass original crystal secured by a screw down tetradecagonal bezel.  Stamped on the back with the serial/run number 017 E 737, then fully signed inside Zenith, Swiss Made, Acier Inoxydable, Modele Depose with model number 11.A.50.038.3.  The original Gay Frères bracelet is absolutely crisp and tight with no stretch and stamped on the clasp blade with the date code 3/71 or the 3rd 1/4 of 1971.  It has 7 links excluding the endlinks and with will fit a 7 1/2 inch wrist or smaller.  Superb lightly worn condition throughout with just a few minor marks on the bezel and sides.

Dial: Absolutely wonderful, factory printed original dial with deep red/burgundy matte background, slightly smoked to the outer edge with large silver sub-dials, funky fluted block applied hour markers with date aperture at 4:30, matching hands and all original cream colour tritium luminous still intact.  Signed Zenith, Chronograph, Automatic, El Primero, T Swiss T.

Movement: The famous Zenith calibre 3019 PHC automatic, column wheel chronograph movement in superb cosmetic and mechanical condition, signed Zenith, 31 Jewels, Unadjusted, Swiss Made. Freshly serviced here at Meticulous, running beautifully with all functions working and comes with our full 1 year mechanical warranty.