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Man, I knew I wanted a Zenith El Primero!

High Hope
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To me the El Primero is such a beautiful piece of engineering and design prowess. I've wanted one for some time but knew little about them, until I joined this site, which only further whetted my appetite! Imagine my surprise when I realized that I actually had one, sort of, kind of.

While perusing El Primeros on eBay I started noticing other brands that carried the same movement, including the TAG Link Calibre 36, like mine:

TAG.jpg

This has been my go-to watch for over fifteen years, and it has served me really well. The exhibition back is mesmerizing (excuse the lousy photograph):

IMG-3419.jpg

All things considered, I think this TAG has scratched that itch for the time being.
 
High Hope
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moyrules moyrules
Congrats!! I remember a Monza also uses ElPrimero movement ...
Thanks, I was pretty excited. I have a Monza, not a chrono, but a really simple one with date only. It is elegant on a black leather strap and serves as my dress watch. But its no El Primero!
 
Evitzee
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Quite a few brands have used the El Primero movement over the years, it's been a workhorse. My Daniel Roth chrono from 1996 uses it. They are very reliable.
 
DSC_0558_5777.jpg 1530292514_Daniel_Roth_Masters_Chronograph.jpg
TraderSantiago
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If I remember correctly, the Tag Grand Carrera and Link also use the Primero movement.
 
STANDY
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High Hope High Hope
To me the El Primero is such a beautiful piece of engineering and design prowess. I've wanted one for some time but knew little about them, until I joined this site, which only further whetted my appetite! Imagine my surprise when I realized that I actually had one, sort of, kind of.

While perusing El Primeros on eBay I started noticing other brands that carried the same movement, including the TAG Link Calibre 36, like mine:

TAG.jpg

This has been my go-to watch for over fifteen years, and it has served me really well. The exhibition back is mesmerizing (excuse the lousy photograph):

IMG-3419.jpg

All things considered, I think this TAG has scratched that itch for the time being.

Also one of the most comfortable bracelets and watches to wear around.👍
 
moyrules
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In a El Primero specific book from Rossler, you can find some examples of watches with the caliber before 2001... here is the picture

281C6AAA-60E4-4038-9161-74146246D004.jpeg 71752C5F-747C-400E-A05C-868EBF1AE69B.jpeg


Excellent book with more detailed info to the El Primero
 
befobe
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Interesting... generates an El Primero envy too!... But which brand was really the first one to use it in a wrist watch? Zenith I suppose?

and how explain that in 1969, Heuer was working hard to launch the first auto chrono (cal 11), and then accepts some years later, with Tag, to use its most famous competitor in its own watches?...
 
asrnj77
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befobe befobe
Interesting... generates an El Primero envy too!... But which brand was really the first one to use it in a wrist watch? Zenith I suppose?

and how explain that in 1969, Heuer was working hard to launch the first auto chrono (cal 11), and then accepts some years later, with Tag, to use its most famous competitor in its own watches?...

depending on who you believe the first watch with the el primero was either the A384 or A386. To your other point I think the Heuer of 1969 is much different than the Tag Heuer of the modern era.
 
moyrules
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befobe befobe
Interesting... generates an El Primero envy too!... But which brand was really the first one to use it in a wrist watch? Zenith I suppose?

and how explain that in 1969, Heuer was working hard to launch the first auto chrono (cal 11), and then accepts some years later, with Tag, to use its most famous competitor in its own watches?...
In the competition of developing an automatic chronograph caliber, Zenith and Seiko worked alone, while heuer worked in a consortium with other Swiss brands (Buren, BReitling, etc)

It is said that Zenith was the first to present it (in January), and Seiko or Heuer the first to sell an automatic chronograph (about the end of May).

Zenith El Primero was unbeatable as design, quality and precision (it’s the only chronograph developed in 1969 that is still in production), but at last, because the watches were too expensive to sell a lot of pieces, took Zenith to near the bankrupt (selling the company to an American non-watch company that bet for quartz movements ... and the rest is history).

The Heuer chronograph beated at 19.800 beats per hour, for example. Not so advanced as Zenith.

Movado, as part of the group, was the only brand used El Primero movement in the 70s. And next brand that used that movement was Rolex (as far as I know) at the middle of 80s, to develop the new Daytona (beginning to sell it on 1988).
Edited:
 
Lurk41
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moyrules moyrules
Zenith El Primero was unbeatable as design, quality and precision (it’s the only chronograph developed in 1969 that is still in production),
Are you sure about that? Because as far as I know, the last 3019 was built a long time ago. The caliber gets several evolution since but it is not called "3019" anymore. Or in that case, we should count the 861 as continuously produced since 1968. Maybe even the Lemania CH27 C12, designed in the 40's and currently in production for the platinum Speedmaster 321.
At the opposite side of the spectrum, you can find the Heuer caliber 11. Same name than in 1969, expect the modern 11 is a 2892 instead of being base on the Buren microrotor ^^

In any case, the El Primero is a nice piece of engineering 🥰
It was also used by Ebel with its 1911 / Modulor and - someone will have to check - I think it was a few years before the Daytona
 
moyrules
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Lurk41 Lurk41
Are you sure about that? Because as far as I know, the last 3019 was built a long time ago. The caliber gets several evolution since but it is not called "3019" anymore. Or in that case, we should count the 861 as continuously produced since 1968. Maybe even the Lemania CH27 C12, designed in the 40's and currently in production for the platinum Speedmaster 321.
At the opposite side of the spectrum, you can find the Heuer caliber 11. Same name than in 1969, expect the modern 11 is a 2892 instead of being base on the Buren microrotor ^^

In any case, the El Primero is a nice piece of engineering 🥰
It was also used by Ebel with its 1911 / Modulor and - someone will have to check - I think it was a few years before the Daytona

First, you are completely right, Rolex was not the first (after Movado) using El Primero... Probably Ebel was, probably other brands used it before Rolex.

About if it is not the same movement that was developed in 1969 (completely the same, in the whole design and components), sure it is not. 3019 was evolutionated in time, but in my opinion, Zenith did an improvement of components and designs but it is based on the same movement. And it is common accepted.
 
befobe
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Great, thanks all for these info's and for that book. I'm really convinced that I need to have a look elsewhere... And make a pause on 321 and 861... ! what could be a good first Primero, with a great history, in the budget range of a modern speedy?...
 
High Hope
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TAG Heuer, tho' I don't want to sell mine. It is called "Link Calibre 36" and has been remarkably accurate, robust ( I wear it everywhere) and, in the long run, not expensive (I bought mine new in the late 90s early 00s and I think it was well south of $5,000.) As Rolls Royce says, "The quality remains long after the price is forgotten." True with this watch, zero regrets ever and I think its a beauty.
 
Lurk41
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moyrules moyrules
About if it is not the same movement that was developed in 1969 (completely the same, in the whole design and components), sure it is not. 3019 was evolutionated in time, but in my opinion, Zenith did an improvement of components and designs but it is based on the same movement. And it is common accepted.
I agree on that part. But in that case, it is not the only chronograph caliber that lasts this long. That was my point 😉 Or I misunderstood and you were only talking about automatic chronographs
 
moyrules
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Lurk41 Lurk41
I agree on that part. But in that case, it is not the only chronograph caliber that lasts this long. That was my point 😉 Or I misunderstood and you were only talking about automatic chronographs

Yes, about production, I was only talking about the three automatic chronographs presented on 1969 (zenith, SEIKO and buren-Heuer-etc).

Thanks for the information, I always learn something when I enter this forum. That’s the reason I love it.
 
S
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moyrules moyrules
By the way, here are more pictures of the book that I posted before

F9BE4206-E89B-4ABD-AAF9-BD1BCCAAE21A.jpeg AF75DA31-8DB2-4E0D-B287-210EDAEE50E2.jpeg EA019EE1-E208-4277-B71F-80F58F67E68A.jpeg C158422F-AC57-46AD-B8F8-C440DCAE9B68.jpeg FE4A0755-5370-47CB-912F-0878691438CE.jpeg
Hi,
Is there a picture of the 90.0016.420 Prime in Titanium ? I am one of the odd one out and like the 420 movement. Yes I know it is sacrilegious.
 
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