How did some of the world's iconic chronographs become so famous?

Karishma Tulsidas answers.

Chronographs – initially built to measure time during life’s most defining moments – have come to embody human resilience, grit and courage. We dive into the legends of the world’s most iconic collections.

DEFYING THE ODDS

The advent of quartz technology in the ’60s and ’70s threatened to upend the watchmaking industry, sparking a fierce race for innovation. Amid this turmoil, Zenith unveiled the El Primero, a groundbreaking automatic chronograph capable of measuring time to 1/10th of a second – a feat unheard of at the time.

However, Swiss watchmakers, convinced that mechanical movements were obsolete, began abandoning their craft. At Zenith, the US management team ordered the destruction of all El Primero equipment. However, one man dared to defy the order.

Charles Vermot, a watchmaker who had witnessed the El Primero’s development, secretly hid the tools and blueprints in the attic of the Zenith manufacturer. Today, the El Primero is hailed as a testament to Vermot’s courage and the enduring spirit of mechanical watchmaking.

RACING LEGEND