Zenith Port Royal El Primero 03.0550.400 automatic 36 x 41 mm Full Set 2003

The brief history

In 1926, Zenith opened a counter in Geneva intended to boost sales on Swiss territory, where competition from Biel, in particular, had already made its mark. It is difficult to say whether the name "Port Royal" dates from this time, but it seems that the women's abbey Port-Royal des Champs founded in 1204 southwest of Paris did indeed inspire the initiators of this Geneva branch. No Zenith pocket watches bore this name, but several "high-end" wristwatch lines would adopt this patronymic, for most chronometers, including in the quartz watch periods.

Fairly, in the "quartz" years, Zenith reused the name "Port Royal" to pave the way for a particular design, which would be declined in the late 1990s on models powered by the Elite and El Primero calibers. This collection was intended to be qualitative and elegant, playing on the geometry of the shapes. In the 2000s, this line got a second wind when the Manufacture presented a rectangular version of the El Primero for the first time! It was then presented as an athletic watch, playing on vertical lines and colors. It then embodied virility according to Zenith.

A rectangular El Primero chrono

It is not common to come face to face with an El Primero chronograph in a rectangular case! This reference 03.0550.400 is sober and dressy, with a polished case measuring 36 x 41 mm. Its dial plays with contrasts with a black "waffle" background and silvered indexes.

Through its transparent back, we find the El Primero 400Z caliber, a modern evolution based on the first high-frequency automatic chronograph movement!

The package

This Zenith Port Royal El Primero is in very good condition. It was released in 2003 and comes Full Set (the case is damaged). This model has been authenticated and checked by our watchmaker and as such benefits from the Lepage Vintage 1 year warranty.