No Reserve: 1972 Zenith El Primero A788

This Zenith El Primero A788, dating to 1972, sits at the intersection of horological and corporate history. It is powered by the calibre 3019 PHC, the movement Zenith unveiled on 10 January 1969 and named El Primero, "the first," beating its rivals to announcement in the race to bring an automatic chronograph to market. It remains the most technically ambitious of that generation: an integrated column-wheel construction running at 36,000 vibrations per hour, capable of timing to a tenth of a second, and the only calibre of the 1969 contenders still in production today. This particular example carries additional interest as a period sales achievement award, engraved and presented in the same years that Zenith's Swiss manufacture came under the control of the Chicago-based Zenith Radio Corporation.

The blue dial is original and remains clean, with sharp, intact printing and no evidence of staining or lacquer degradation. The tritium lume on both the hands and hour plots has matured to a warm cream tone, consistent across most markers. There is a small black discoloration in the subdial present at 6 o'clock, which is present in the images. The acrylic crystal exhibits visible surface scratches, particularly near 11 o'clock, 8 o'clock and towards the center of the crystal. The brushed stainless steel case has been lightly refinished in the past, with the hexagonal facets and case lines remaining crisp and the overall proportions preserved. Scattered scratches and light marks are present on the flanks, lug tips, and caseback, consistent with careful wear and handling over time. The crown and pump pushers are present and show light surface wear, and are verified as original to the watch. The fold link-style bracelet, which is an aftermarket stainless steel from Hong Kong, shows light stretch, surface marks heaviest at the clasp.

Acquired directly from the son of the original owner, in whose family the watch has remained since new.

The caseback is period-engraved "1972 / Chicago Sweepstakes / Sales Achievement Award" above the recipient's signature. Per the seller, the watch was awarded to his father as a top salesman's prize. No supporting documentation accompanies the lot. The account beyond the engraving itself is offered as related by the family rather than as verified fact, with the engraving standing as the primary evidence.

The engraving is of interest in its own right. The Chicago-based Zenith Radio Corporation, the American television and electronics manufacturer, took control of the Swiss Zenith manufacture in the early 1970s. A Chicago-engraved 1972 sales award on an El Primero is consistent with that period of American ownership. It was the same American management which, in 1975, ordered mechanical watch production halted and the El Primero tooling destroyed, the calibre surviving only because watchmaker Charles Vermot preserved the tooling in the factory attic against instruction, allowing its revival the following decade.

Mechanically, the watch is running and currently gaining approximately 7 seconds per day, a figure that should be expected to change once the chronograph fault is corrected. The chronograph function is not operational: it is seized in the running position and will not stop or reset, requiring attention from a watchmaker. The movement has been inspected and confirmed as the calibre 3019 PHC, but has not been recently serviced, and the watch is not water resistant in its current state. If the winner of the auction wishes, they can add on a service to the verification process, so that the watch arrives with a fresh service at the time, this can be selected at checkout.

Included in the sale is the watch as pictured, with its engraved caseback and bracelet. No box, papers, or additional accessories are present. This A788 stands out for its preserved dial, honest case, and single-family history, further distinguished by its Chicago-engraved caseback, a tangible link to the transatlantic chapter of Zenith's story in the early 1970s.