The Benchmark for Accuracy - The First Automatic El Primero Integrated Chronograph with 1/10th of a Second Display
The legendary El Primero movement developed by the Manufacture Zenith and first introduced on January 10, 1969 has proved a perpetual source of fascination. While all movement manufacturers were capable of producing automatic movements for classic watches, none had thus far ventured to develop such a system for a chronograph movement.
It is historically acknowledged as the “first chronograph calibre with automatic winding by an oscillating weight pivoting on a centrally-placed ball bearing mechanism”.
Making an El Primero movement involves: a symbolic nine months of work during which 20 watchmakers play successive roles in developing and crafting this movement no less than 5,500 operations. 50 milling operations of various dimensions on the dial side. 77 other milling operations on the bridge side - 5 and 50 operations for each part - 18 different metals in its classic version.
The heart of the El Primero beats at a rate of 36,000 vibrations per hour or in other words 864,000 a day, meaning 315,360,000 beats per year. One vibration corresponds to the position of the lever as it swings to and fro, making the alternating “tick” and “tock” sounds.
As there are 3,600 seconds in an hour (60 seconds times 60 minutes), and since El Primero beats at a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, the hands actually thus make 10 jumps per second, thereby marking off tenths of a second.
Enhanced precision and readability through jumping seconds
The Jumping Seconds chronograph is distinguished by a chronograph hand completing its rotation in just 10 seconds and thereby considerably improving the 1/10th of a second read-off. This significant new feature is backed by six-times larger divisions on the outer dial ring (10 seconds instead of 60) enabling totally accurate readings to within 1/10th of second.
One particularly important feature of this model lies in the chronograph stop function. When it is stopped, the hand-locking system brings the hand to an extremely precise halt, since the brake-lever positions the hand between two of the 100 teeth on the chronograph wheel, thereby further enhancing the precision of the 1/10th of a second read-off.
The original El Primero movement sweeps around the dial in 60 seconds in tiny 1/10th of a second jumps, meaning the chronograph hand performs 600 jumps a minute. The ultra-fast stopping and restarting of this large chronograph hand 10 times a second calls for a huge amount of energy. The watch functions had to be significantly improved and optimised to enable this energy-consuming acceleration. Seeking to reduce the energy required naturally entailed making the movement wheels as light as possible, which is why some of them are in silicon – a material three and a half times lighter than its traditional counterparts.
An attractive new face
Driven by the El Primero 4052 B automatic calibre, the new El Primero Jumping Seconds chronograph comes in a choice of 18-carat rose gold or stainless steel for its 42mm case that is water-resistant to 100 meters and fitted with a transparent sapphire crystal on either side.
The silver sunray-brushed dial features circular satin-brushed zones for the rose gold version. Both the stainless steel model and the gold model feature three counters. On the stainless steel version, these come in subtle shades of blue and grey. The faceted hands and hour-markers coated with Superluminova are rhodium-plated, or gold-plated on the rose gold models.
The distinctive 1/10th of a second indication is clearly marked off by the dedicated chronograph hand.
This elegantly sophisticated model is fitted with a choice of rubber-lined black or brown alligator leather strap, secured to the wrist by a pin buckle in stainless steel or 18kr rose gold, or by a stainless steel bracelet with triple folding clasp.
Vividly embodying a revolutionary technical enhancement that is reflected in its stand-out design, the El Primero Jumping Seconds chronograph takes high-precision timing read-off to a whole new level.
horlogerie suisse
