Seeing a reasonably cheap (gold plated) Zenith with a variant of the El Primero movement made me wonder what could be a good entry-level EP choice? I know that there are lesser-bejewelled (and often rather exoticly cased) Movados, there are a dizzying variety of Ebels and then there are less-than-extremely-attractive Zeniths models - such as the gold plated version I found on the Bay for sale at roughly £1K.

So, if you cannot cash up for one of the divine vintage versions, where should you look?

 

I don't want to read this ......

But I do t think I can stop myself.....

 

Where do you fit on the quality spectrum? You can maybe get an ElP for less if you compromise on that. European Watch has a decent one (it was mine).

 

These still show up at resonable prices from time to time:
https://omegaforums.net/threads/the-subtle-el-primero.20564/

 

These ARE extremely nice.

They have the benefit over the Ebel of not having a somewhat dated design in both bracelet and case.

 

...It actually has a very dated design... It is just a much nicer date(d).

 

I started by snorting a Movado here and there.




Before I knew it, I was mainlining the hard stuff.

 

Happy to take a speedy or two off your hands to help make room.....

 

In some cases sharp cases can cause...

 

While I do appreciate the odd derailing of a thread, when it's done so beautifully ( ), I'd still be happy to learn more about the cheaper options out there. Did a bit of research on the version Stygg proposes and must admit that I'm surprised that they aren't dearer! There's a gorgeous one on chrono24 at the moment...

 

Only the second half of my post was derailment. The first half was the entry-level stuff:

And here is some even lower entry-level stuff. This is like the doggy-door EP... the gold-plated C-case Datron:

 

But seriously, those Movado Chronodiver Datrons with the black-and-white Bakelite bezels and the date at 12 are among the coolest and most attainable of the early EPs, still available in the vicinity of $2k.

 

I know, I know!

Sheesh, I'm only kidding - I even gave your post a like

The Movados, I think, are a bit challenging as they seem to be all over the place price-wise and I am unsure of how, eh, desirable they really are. I don\t know how to properly put it, but I perceive them to lack some of the finesse I associate with the EP movement. Perhaps a bit too stuck in the seventies?

EDIT Perhaps what I mean is that they are too much of an aquired taste. Amazed that they can be found at so low prices, though.

 

Here's another thought... the more modern classic all-black Rainbow Flyback sometimes dips close to $2k (not this particular one, but sometimes).



http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/161679804944Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network

 

Confirmed and agreed!

 

There are always a few gold plated examples floating around but sometimes you can find a Class 4 or a Chronomaster for under $2,000.

 

Well, I started with a Chronomaster
The case, the lugs, the dial... Just... Marvelous... A good friend made me an offer I couldn't refuse, so I quickly pulled the trigger.



But a good place to start with El Primero's would be the gold plated versions.
After some initial mixed feelings, under the right circumstances, they might prove solid choices (99% convinced at the moment to pull mine off the market - changed the strap and started wearing it again with great joy).

 

You can find the EP hand winds for sub $2k, but it is a HW. I second that Movado route, and you don't have to settle for a gold plated case one either. The more modern rainbows are sweet, and they occasionally dip in the low $2k range, but most are $2.5k+.

Some of Movado Sub Sea Pilots had El Primero on the dial, and didn't lack any of the refinement.