Wristwatches · Wristwatch
Zenith El Primero Triple Calendar Chronograph, ref. 95.0100.418, circa 1980s
- Maker / attribution
- Zenith (brand / maker)
- Date
- circa 1980s
- Historical period
- Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
- Country of origin
- Switzerland
- Object type
- Wristwatch
- Materials / technique
- titanium
- Dimensions
- 40mm
- Auction house
- Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
- Lot
- Lot 374-185
- Credit line
- Auction lot record: LOT 185
- Catalogue title (original)
- ZENITH, SWITZERLAND, REF. 95.0100.418, EL PRIMERO TRIPLE CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH, BLACK DIAL, TITANIUM
Record summary
Catalogued by Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva (lot Lot 374-185), this is a wristwatch by Zenith, made in Switzerland, dated circa 1980s. The Atlas places it in the Quartz Revolution period (1969 – 1990) of its Wristwatches collection. Materials and techniques recorded by the source: titanium. Recorded dimensions: 40mm. The record is illustrated with 4 photographs.
Assembled from the source record's structured fields. Dates and attributions are given as the source states them; where a field is missing the Atlas leaves it blank rather than estimating.
Catalogue description
Antiquorum catalogue description
EUR 2,200 - 3,700 / CHF 2,100 - 3,400 / USD 2,400 - 3,900 A fine and rare, titanium, self winding chronograph wristwatch with black lacquared dial, triple calendar ,and screwed caseback .
Lot specifications (Antiquorum)
Caliber: El Primero 410; Bracelet: titanium Zenith bracelet with Zenith clasp, approx total length 175mm; Signature: Dial, case and movement
Historical context
Quartz Revolution (1969 – 1990)
Seiko's Astron begins mass quartz timekeeping; traditional industries contract sharply.
Quartz and digital watches transformed the market after 1969. Swiss employment collapsed, Japanese and Hong Kong production soared, and the Swatch (1983) helped the Swiss industry recover; mechanical watches survived as luxury goods.
Read the period in the timelineMore wristwatches from this periodEarlier: Modern Mechanical Horology
Atlas type guide
Chronographs and split-seconds watches
A chronograph is a watch with an additional seconds hand that can be started, stopped and returned to zero independently of the timekeeping. Louis Moinet built an early example in 1816 and Nicolas Rieussec a recording 'chronographe' in 1821; Adolphe Nicole's heart-shaped reset cam (patented 1862) made the modern return-to-zero possible. Split-seconds (rattrapante) chronographs add a second hand that can be stopped for intermediate times; flyback chronographs restart instantly.
Chronographs were essential tools for doctors (pulsometer scales), artillery (telemeter), engineers and sport. In wristwatches, Valjoux, Venus, Lemania and later the automatic chronographs of 1969 (Zenith El Primero, the Chronomatic Calibre 11 group and Seiko 6139) are milestones.
What to look for
- Push-pieces on the case band or a single button in the crown (monopusher).
- Subsidiary registers for minutes and hours; tachymeter, telemeter or pulsometer scales.
- Column wheel versus cam control visible in the movement.
- Calibre markings of specialist makers (Valjoux, Lemania, Venus, Landeron).
Dating clues
- Pocket chronographs with heart cam reset: after 1862.
- Wrist chronographs: from c. 1910; two-button designs from the 1930s.
- Automatic chronographs: from 1969.
General guidance written by the Atlas editors about this kind of object. It is not a statement about this particular piece; for that, rely on the source record above and on physical examination.
Read next:Flyback chronographChronograph
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