Black dial TV-case Primero on the bay
http://www.ebay.de/itm/Zenith-EL-Pr...rmbanduhren&hash=item2325ce5823#ht_500wt_1210Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

The last of the last, this was the last reference produced before Primero production shut down, forever if it were not for the covert efforts of our man Charles Vermot. One of 50. Chris, as the only owner of one that I know, I'd appreciate and evaluation of autheniticity.

I see some sort of defect in the 9 o'clock marker on the tachy bezel.

 

When was this? And when did it go back into production?

 

Yes, its as Dennis says. But for the full flavor of the irony that MMMD alludes to, you have to understand that Zenith was bought by Zenith Electronics ( american TV manufacturer) who shortly afterwards ordered that all mechanical movement production cease and that the machine tools be destroyed. It is known that among the last Primeros produced, 50 in the TV-shaped case did not have the usual blue dial, but a black dial instead. The one that started this thread is an example. Chris (John Chris) who landed a pristine example not long ago has this idea that they were the last 50, and black as a funeral gesture. Hence "Mourning Primero."

 

So when did they fire production of EPs back up? The Rolex's were using it from 1987, so I'm guessing earlier than that

 

About 1984. Rolex widely gets the whole credit for the resurrection, but substantial credit belongs to...wait for it...Ebel. Bet you didn't see that coming. One of these days, I'll post a summary of the whole Primero story - it's one of the best movement sagas in watchmaking.

 

Yes, I still regret not purchasing a white gold ebel chronograph with the el primero movement for sale on TZ not that long ago.

 

Oscar Waldan would appreciate your note. I had a chance to speak to him about two or three years ago and he (rightly in my opinion) feels that his role is unfairly overlooked.