1969 : ANTHRACITE, LIGHT GREY AND BLUE: THE MODEL’S
THREE COLOURS ARE TO BECOME ICONIC.
On January 10th 1969, the first models were ready to be presented to the press under code names 3019 PHC and 3019 PHF. In reference to its history, the chronograph was given a name meaning "the first" in the international auxiliary language, Esperanto. Right from the start, its universal vocation was indeed to be number one. Back then it took an average nine months to produce and assemble an El Primero calibre – and that remains true to this day. No less than 2,500 operations are succes¬sively performed by 300 expert hands.
From the luxurious confidential all-gold version with a white and yellow dial to the classic timepieces in steel with a silver-toned dial, there were initially 12 versions in all. Its 38mm diameter accommodated a date window at 4.30, a tachometric scale, nine hour-markers and three separate chronograph counters at 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. But whereas the fashion a the time was for black or midnight blue dark dials and tone-on-tone counters, El Primero established new aesthetic criteria aimed at enhancing readability. Anthracite, light grey and blue: the model’s three colours were to become iconic.
The lightest adorned the seconds counter, the darkest the hour counter, and the one in between graced the minute counter. These subtle shades offered an harmonious display of the time measurements, facilitating reading on the one hand, and highlighting the chronograph function on the other. Another distinctive design feature was the clearly visible sweep seconds fitted with a distinctive rectangle. Its inspiration harked back to the Zenith altimeters produced in 1910 for British Navy Flying Corps which required not only accurate and reliable instruments, but also re¬garded legibility as a top priority.
