Arguably one of the most famous chronograph makers in all of horology, Zenith is best-known for their El Primero automatic chronograph movement. From its status as one of the first automatic chronograph movements ever made (depending on who you ask) and the base movement to feature within the second-generation Rolex Daytona, the El Primero is certainly a modern-day icon. However, Zenith’s involvement in chronographs certainly pre-dates the El Primero, with the manual-wind cal. 146HP that powers the vintage PVD-coated stainless steel chronograph that we have here a testament to that fact. Identified as an example from the early 1970s as a result of the Zenith logo used on its black dial, this example is powered by the manual-wind cal. 146HP which was produced by Martel. An ebauche whom Zenith acquired in 1960, Martel’s expertise in producing high-class chronograph movements was what Zenith’s development of the El Primero movement relied upon. A prototype of which approx 12 were ever made, the watch provided the inspiration for the Chronometer Revival Shadow that was released in 2020. Offered as a tonneau-shaped 41mm PVD-coated stainless steel timepiece with a sleek black dial and a black rubber strap, this vintage watch aesthetically flies under the radar, yet from a mechanical perspective it retains a strong link to Martel and Zenith’s early days as a chronograph specialist who had only just developed the El Primero and were beginning to ramp up its production.

Watch is in excellent overall condition. PVD Case exhibits some light wear, with some marks visible along the edges, both on the 3 o'clock side close to the crown, as well as on the 9 o'clock side. Dial excellent with light signs of wear in the 9 o'clock and 6 o'clock subdials.

Linking modern Zenith with their pre-El Primero days, this Martel cal. 146HP-powered chronograph sits on the fence between the chronograph specialist that we know today and the Zenith who relied on Martel to provide them with the time's cutting-edge chronograph movements.