Pre-Baselworld 2009: Zenith 40th Anniversary Watch Collection Celebrates 1969 Debut Of The "El Primero" Movement

To mark the 40th anniversary of its legendary El Primero chronograph movement--the world's first and only mechanical chronograph caliber capable of measuring independent time to 1/10th second--Swiss watchmaker Zenith will unveil a series of limited edition commemorative timepieces that span a range of the brand's product line, including the Class, Port Royal, Chronomaster, and Defy collections.  Scheduled for official introduction at Baselworld 2009, these Zenith 40th Anniversary watches display dials with a distinctive band and a shield that note the years 1969 through 2009.  

The Zenith New Vintage 1969 "The Originals" watches are a distinctive highlight of the 40th Anniversary watch collection.  These models feature a distinctive case and design elements which are strongly inspired by the first Zenith El Primero chronograph.  The Vintage Anniversary Titanium watch bridges the gap between vintage and modern aesthetic priorities with its case in black titanium, and a transparent dial that reveals the complex mechanical structures of the manufacture Zenith chronograph movement.  

The key to the remarkable precision of the Zenith El Primero chronograph movement is its ultra-rapid balance frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour.  A fully-integrated construction and a traditional column-wheel controlled mechanism are other technical elements which have ensured the decades-long horological prestige and success of Zenith's manufacture chronograph caliber.