Zenith

Kong
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Zenith Evening at Sincere Watch Academy

The next day after the dinnner, Mr Jean-Frederic Dufour, the CEO of Zenith met up with another group of watch enthusiasts at the Sincere Watch Academy (SWA) to talk about the El Primero.

Before the talk commenced, a picture of Jean-Frederic Dufour, the CEO of Zenith with Mr Patrick Tan, Head of SWA


An introduction by Mr Patrick Tan ...




Before the presentation,  Mr Jean-Frederic Dufour, the CEO of Zenith, showed a new well-made filmlet consisting of the well-known past historical figures who wore Zenith timepieces.

After the filmlet, Mr Jean-Frederic Dufour wrote some numbers on the flip-chart ...


These are the important years along the milestones of Zenith from the beginning ...

1865 : Georges Favre-Jacot, the founder and a visionary watchmaker, started the business to create the most accurate and reliable watches of his era.
By then he was just 22 year-old.

After that he started to build its company and manufacturing facilities in Le Locle, which till today, the manufacturing site of Zenith still stands after 147 years.

1899 : Zenith has their First pocket chronograph and was awarded a "Grand Prix" in 1900.

1969 :  The year El Primero, the first automatic integrated chronograph with column wheel and beating 36000 VPH, was born.


1975 : The year which El Primero could be wiped out from the earth. The brand was then owned by America electronic company, which was also known as Zenith.
An order came from the America head office, to negotiate a scrapyard price for all the toolings, calibres and machine used to make the El Primero and focused to make quartz pieces.

However, an employee by the name of Charles Vermot disagreed with the decision, and hid the toolings and components in the attic of the factory.
His rebellious action was the saving grace for the brand, as nine years later the demand for mechanical watches was back. 

And El Primero later was being used in Rolex Daytona. Seems like 20K movements were delivered for a period of 15 years.


2010 :  Commemorating the 40th anniversary of El Primero.  The brand manufactured a watch like a reissue of the first El Primero Chronograph with the same colour scheme, similar shape but slightly larger but also displays 10th of a second.



A cover with the 1969 frist  El Primero Chronograph with date and tachometer.


After the presentation, several questions were asked.

The imminent question of wear and tear at high frequency of 5Hz was asked. 
Mr Jean-Frederic Dufour replied all the components are still the same and with proper lubrification, there are no evidence of earlier wear and tear as compared to typical 4Hz.


After the Q&A, the novelties were shown to the guests ...


Mr Jean-Frederic Dufour explaining the collection to a group of guests ....



The watches were posted on the following thread ....




Before leaving, a pic of a nice Zenith El Primero (Rainbow), still functioning well and keeping good time.  The owner mentioned it was not serviced since he bought it fifteen years ago.
I think the remarks had made everyone happy, perhaps including Mr Jean-Frederic Dufour.




Kong