It utilizes a column wheel to start, stop and reset the chronograph’s functions, which is considered by many a sign of classic watch-making. First of all, it’s an integrated chronograph, meaning that there is no base movement with a chronograph module atop. The El Primero movement sets itself apart from the herd of mechanical chronographs with automatic winding. This automatically wound beauty can be observed through the sapphire crystal in the case back. The calibre 410 sports 31 rubies, 354 parts, a triple calendar (month, day, date), a moonphase, 50 hours of power reserve, and of course the chronograph with 30-minute and 12-hour registers. It’s escapement vibrates at 36,000 vibrations per hour, or 10 ticks per second.

First produced in 1969, the El Primero is still considered by many the best mechanical chronograph movement. The movement is Zenith’s iconic caliber 410, which i an integrated chronograph movement with a column wheel to actuate the chronograph’s functions.

That was different on the “old” El Primero Chronomaster that was introduced in the beginning of this millennium and like the new El Primero 410 it featured a triple calendar, a moon phase indication and of course the legendary chronograph. The current day El Primero Chronomaster distincts itself from the El Primero collection, by a large aperture in the dial revealing the entire escapement.

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