To mark the brand’s 150 th anniversary, Zenith, the official timekeeper for the Tour Auto Optic 2000, introduces the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition
Since 2014, Zenith has been the official timekeeper of the Tour Auto Optic 2000, the most prestigious race of historical cars. To mark the occasion, the house of Zenith presents the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition, which is inspired by its milestone invention – the world’s first integrated automatic chronograph, and the most precise high-frequency movement. Zenith introduced the El Primero movement on January 10, 1969, and it soon became a true legend of contemporary watchmaking. In addition to its tenth-of-a-second precision, thanks to a high frequency of 36,600 vibrations per hour, the El Primero became recognized for its exceptional resistance to harsh conditions. This is the very same movement that a modern-day daredevil, Felix Baumgartner, wore on his wrist during a freefall jump from a stratosphere.
This year, Zenith introduces the Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition, which features all of the key characteristics of the automatic El Primero line, while adding a sporty touch. The famous El Primero was revisited in 2003, when Zenith decided to rethink the caliber’s construction and make the regulating organ of the watch clearly visible from the dial side. To accomplish this, the balance wheel and balance spring were relocated to the periphery of the movement, and revealed through an aperture at 11 o’clock. On the Tour Auto Edition, the opening, also referred to as the “Open” window, is a nod to the view of a racing car mechanism when its hood is up. The rhodium-plated surface of the dial is finely brushed, while the blue-white-red straps evoke the colors of the French flag in honor of Maurice Trintignant, the first French F1 racing driver to win the Grand Prix de Monaco in 1955, and who also wore a Zenith watch.
The overall design of the watch immediately calls to mind the spirit of the race and the world of classic cars. The tachymeter scale is painted in opaline silver, while the inner ring features a lively blue hue, with red and blue transfers. The hollowed and snailed 30-minute and 12-hour counters are bounded by a blue circular satin-brushed border, while the central sweep-seconds hand features a star-shaped counterpoise. The watch also features a small seconds sub-dial, which appears through the “Open” window at 9 o’clock.
The El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition is made of stainless steel, and its case measures 42mm in diameter. The housing accommodates the brand’s famous El Primero 4061 automatic movement, which beats at a frequency of 5Hz, and provides 50 hours of power reserve. The movement is revealed through a transparent sapphire crystal case-back, which discloses its beautiful oscillating weight adorned with Côtes de Genève.
The El Primero Chronomaster 1969 Tour Auto Edition is mounted on a perforated blue calfskin strap with a triple folding clasp, which is a nod to the gloves formerly worn by the drivers of classic cars. The watch is issued in a 500 piece limited edition, which can be recognized by two special inscriptions found on the case back: the Tour Auto logo (on the sapphire crystal pane) and the serial number. This special model is delivered in a presentation box, which features a blue interior, and the Tour Auto logo on is cover.
This beautiful collector’s timepiece retails at $11,900 USD. For more information about this watch, please visit the Zenith website.
Author: Marina Milojevic Pinterest
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