Zenith El Primero De Luca 02.1310.400 40mm Auto-UF116

Zenith El Primero De Luca 02.1310.400 40mm Auto

Your Price: $9,799.00

Zenith El Primero De Luca 02.1310.400 40mm Auto

Inventory Code: UF116

Availability: Out of Stock. Free Shipping.

Box / Papers None

Observed Rate performs per manufacturer specs

Bracelet Length up to 7.25 inches

Condition Near Mint to Mint

Condition Notes Minor imperfection on the bezel but otherwise practically no signs of use on the case and bracelet. Looks very close to new on your wrist.

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By the boom of the late 1980s, mechanical watches were once again thriving in the luxury end of the market. But apart from their lucrative deal with Rolex, Zenith were not cashing in. The story goes that the Italian import agent for Zenith was frustrated at the product line that was on offer from the company, and formulated the design brief for a new model because he was sure it would sell to his discerning Italian clients. His name was De Luca. We are not sure how much of the specification he generated, but the essence is one of a reverse panda dial (and a panda version too), 100m Water resistance, 0-60 uni-directional bezel and the El Primero movement.

Zenith agreed to the specification and made it. Production numbers for the model seem to indicate that the market reception was a little cooler than De Luca thought, with only 1025 made of the first iteration with black dial over 1988-9 before they started tweaking the design. The first series was most faithful to Zenith’s past, with a simple domed acrylic crystal, printed dial, simple pushers and an unsigned crown.

As the design evolved, the De Luca started to look a little more like the Rolex Daytona which had initially secured Zenith’s future. It got shrouded pushers and then screw-downs. Mercedes hands were introduced, as were round, applied indices and flat mineral (eventually sapphire) crystal.

TECHNICAL FEATURES
Movement: El Primero 400-Automatic
Case: 40mm
Material: Stainless steel

Functions:
Hours and minutes in the centre
Small seconds at 9 o'clock
Chronograph:
- Central chronograph hand
- 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock
- 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock
Tachymetric scale
Date indication at 4:30

Zenith El Primero De Luca 02.1310.400 40mm Auto

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