![]() The new, accurate quartz watches gained popularity and plunged the Swiss watch industry in a deep crisis. In the 1970s, the post-war global economic boom came to an end. Saved by an act of disobedience – Charles Vermot This simple fact stands as evidence of El Primero’s importance and enduring design. ![]() The debate about who came first doesn’t really matter anymore … but what is important is the indisputable fact that there are very few movements, in particular, chronograph movements, that can simultaneously celebrate half a centenary and continue to be produced to power watches. What’s more, El Primero was not the first to hit the market. There are many debates about which was the first automatic chronograph, as both the Seiko and the Chronomatic movements were announced later the same year. It was presented in January 1969 in a press conference and aptly christened El Primero ( first in Spanish). The Zenith automatic chronograph was the first to be unveiled to the world. The calibre was also named ‘Datron HS 36’ at Movado, which commercialised the movement under the Zenith-Movado-Mondia consortium. Better known as El Primero, this development was initiated in 1962 with the goal of presenting the movement in 1965 to coincide with the centenary of the brand.
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