There are some great watch stories and today’s watch pays homage to one of the best. Watchmaker Charles Vermot led the El Primero movement production for Zenith until the company changed ownership in 1972. The new directive was to end all mechanical movements and switch exclusively to quartz movements. In defiance of orders, Vermot secretly hid all plans and equipment necessary to produce the El Primero in the attic of the factory. Years passed, and the company changed hands again, this time with the idea to return to the historical mechanical movements that made Zenith famous. It was then that our hero Charles Vermot opened up the attic and revealed all he had hid. He was forever deemed the savior of the El Primero.
This El Primero sports a blue dial in honor of Charles Vermot’s favorite color. At 42mm, the case is comfortable and holds the famous high beat El Primero Chronograph. This watch also includes an annual calendar module developed by master watchmaker Ludwig Oechslin in a remarkable collaboration.