Zenith El Priimero De Luca panda MK1

The Zenith “De Luca” chronograph stands as one of the most emblematic expressions of the El Primero era in the late 1980s — a period when mechanical watchmaking was only beginning to recover from the quartz crisis. Commissioned under the direction of Italian distributor Charles De Luca, this model was designed to embody the spirit of the original El Primero chronographs while adding a distinctive, sporty Mediterranean flair. Its robust case, black bezel, and perfectly balanced tri-compax layout defined the first true neo-vintage chronograph in Zenith’s history.

The reference 01.0040.400, belonging to the first series, is particularly sought-after among collectors for its purity and originality. It features a 40 mm stainless-steel case, a matte black dial with creamy pumpkin-toned tritium markers, and matching hands that have aged into a warm yellow hue. The overall harmony between patina and dial texture gives this first-series De Luca an unmistakable vintage charm — elegant yet decisively tool-oriented, faithful to its late-’80s DNA.

Inside beats the legendary El Primero 400 automatic high-frequency movement, beating at 36,000 bph — the same architecture that powered Zenith’s most celebrated chronographs since 1969. Produced circa 1988–1989, this first-generation De Luca with its original steel bracelet remains a milestone in Zenith’s modern renaissance: a watch that bridges the golden age of mechanical innovation with the refined enthusiasm of contemporary collecting.