Cover Girl
Zenith El Primero Chronomaster
Quick facts
Brand: Zenith
Model: Chronomaster Revival El Primero A3818
Reference: 03.A3818.400/51.M3818
Year: 2020
Case: Stainless steel, 37mm
Caliber: Zenith 400, automatic
What about it
The A3818, known by its nickname 'Cover Girl', has garnered its fame due to being prominently featured on the cover of Manfred Rössler's esteemed book "Zenith: Swiss Watch Manufacture Since 1865".
In 1969, Zenith presented the El Primero movement, the Swiss industry's first integrated automatic chronograph movement vibrating at 5Hz. The movement was housed in two different style cases: a round model designated the A386, and two barrel or tonneau shaped models dubbed the A384 and A385. In 1971, Zenith debuted an execution of the A385 that was destined to become a legend. That watch named the A3818 featured the barrel case and an integrated ladder style bracelet created for Zenith by the most famous bracelet maker of the era, Gay Frères.
The watch showcased a vibrant blue dial adorned with vertical brushing, featuring a distinctive 'shark tooth' racing track encircling its perimeter, along with a combined pulsometer and tachymeter. Its innovative scale allowed for reading one's pulse within 15 beats, seamlessly transitioning into a functional tachymeter. The chronograph seconds hand boasted a small luminous paddle, resulting in the creation of one of the most uniquely stylish sports chronographs in horological history.
37
Diametermm
19
Lug widthmm
36000
Frequencyvph
50
Power h
Sapphire
Crystal
El Primero movement
The El Primero movement stands as an iconic achievement, boasting over 50 years of continuous production. Its inception in 1969 marked the culmination of seven dedicated years by Zenith's craftsmen, driven to craft the inaugural fully integrated automatic chronograph movement. While the easier path would have involved appending a module to a base movement, Zenith pursued a more ambitious vision, laden with additional requisites, thereby intensifying the project's complexity. Foremost among these demands was the pursuit of an elevated beat frequency within the calibre, enabling the chronograph function to impeccably measure time down to 1/10th of a second.
Superman Blue dial
Romain Marietta says, “We decided to make every single indicator on the Superman Blue dial luminous. Yes, that means every one of the marks on the 'shark tooth' scale, every indication in the pulsometer and tachymeter, all the subdials and even the hands on the subdials. Because some of these indexes are so small, it took a lot of trial and error to get this exactly right, but we managed it. If you shine a UV light on the Cover Girl Revival, the effect is amazing as you see this incredible luminous light display.”
Brushed dials offer a unique advantage — they present varied appearances when viewed from different angles and under varying lighting conditions
Similar
A384
© Zenith Watches
A385
© Zenith Watches
Market
Availability: rare
ca 10 watches on sale (vintage and re-editions)
Pricing: 9,000 - 20,000+ €
(Dec 2023)
References
Related
Zenith El Primero A3817
A3817
You can buy one!
Zenith A3818 El Primero vintage (1971)
Known as the “Cover Girl” after being featured on Rossler's book on Zenith, this model is well known and one of the most collectible when it comes to vintage Zenith El Primero. Beautiful blue dial with vintage characteristic patina. There is a scratch on the dial between 12 and 1 o'clock indices. Lumed indices and hands. Comes fitted with the rare and correct crown for this model. 37mm stainless steel case. It retains thick lugs with sharp bevelled edges. Zenith signed SP 1301 case back. The watch comes on a Zenith signed Gay Freres ladder bracelet with the rare “ZKM” endlinks. Automatic chronograph Zenith cal. 3019 PHC with 31 jewels.
Details
- Reference: A3818
- Price: 16,000 GBP
- Year: 1971
- Caliber: 3019 PHC
- Size: 37mm
- Warranty: 1Y
