One part of this story that gets glossed over is the acquisition of Zenith Watches by Zenith Electronics. It was not happenstance, but a deliberate effort by Zenith electronics to settle a long-running trademark battle (and why many Zenith models were Movado-branded in the US) by destroying Zenith watches. "It would have worked too, if it weren't for that meddling Vermot!" is the way the episode would have ended on an episode of Scooby-doo.
Looks like a lot of content comes from this thread (without any sourcing or credit, of course). Interestingly, the title of the piece bears Vermot's name but there's no trace or mention of anyone at Hodinkee attempting to track down his heirs, find out what ultimately happened to him after the machines were recovered or production restarted, and no trace of Hodinkee asking anyone at Zenith whether he had been properly thanked for what he did. (Except of course give his name to a watch). Yet isn't that what one would need to know at the end of such a piece?
Well, I don't know that anything here is particularly original. The Vermot story has long been part of the Holy Writ among Primero collectors, along with the introduction of El Primero January 10, 1969, making it, in fact, el primero. Very many moons ago, Ben Clymer asked me to write this up for the old Hodinkee, and I never delivered, so I'm glad the story got out anyway. The highest appeal of the thing remains for me M. Vermot's little sob when he is asked if he is happy Primero production resumes.
Another reason for the importance of the video is that it single-handedly validated the 3019PHF prototype that I think still holds the record for Primero price at auction by means of a throwaway image flashed at 2:48
Thanks for all the insights, Lou. Great stories, plot lines, and Zenith intrigue. The Zenith TV acquisition of Zenith watch is really an interesting story that has not been told enough..
Charles Vermot passed away in 2003... As 2025 will mark the 50th anniversary of the amazing Charles Vermot " El Primero's guardian " story: .
I would like a full movie about M.Vermot "Hollywwod style". Maybe in the future I'll try to write a subject to be proposed to a producer.