The Record Ledger · updated October 2026 · 17 documented results
The 10 Most Expensive Zenith El Primero Watches Ever Sold
The most expensive Zenith El Primero ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Zenith El Primero A386 Unique Piece ref. 40.P386.400/57.C842, which realized $250,650 at Phillips Geneva in 2019 — the top of 17 documented results totaling $685,619.
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1
Zenith El Primero A386 Unique Piece
$250,650 · 2019 · Phillips Geneva
A unique platinum version of the iconic A386 created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the El Primero movement, featuring a lapis lazuli dial.
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2
Zenith El Primero Gold
$80,000 · 2019 · Phillips Geneva
One of the earliest gold executions of the El Primero high-beat automatic chronograph. Only 700 examples were produced, featuring the classic panda dial layout.
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3
Zenith El Primero A386 Only Watch 2019
$75,750 · 2019 · Christie's Geneva
A unique white gold execution of the iconic A386 created for Only Watch 2019, featuring a turquoise subdial matching the auction's theme color.
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4
Zenith El Primero Prototype
$73,500 · 2015 · Phillips Geneva
An extremely rare prototype of the El Primero featuring a triple calendar and moon phase, one of only 25 pieces produced in 1969.
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5
Zenith El Primero Prototype
$40,125 · 2012 · Christie's Geneva
A mythical prototype El Primero, one of only 25 made, featuring moonphase and calendar indicators not found on standard A386 models.
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6
Zenith El Primero
$40,000 · 2018 · Phillips Geneva
A highly original and well-preserved example of the first-generation A386 from 1969.
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7
Zenith El Primero
$22,500 · 2019 · Phillips Geneva
A well-preserved original 1969 example of the first automatic integrated chronograph with the iconic tri-color dial.
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8
Zenith El Primero 'Cover Girl'
$17,700 · 2020 · Phillips Hong Kong
Known as the 'Cover Girl' for its appearance on the cover of Manfred Rössler's Zenith book, featuring a distinctive blue dial.
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9
Zenith El Primero
$17,100 · 2024 · Phillips Hong Kong
A rare reference combining the A386 tri-color dial with the tonneau case of the A384, produced in only 1,000 pieces.
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10
Zenith El Primero
$11,400 · 2024 · Phillips Hong Kong
A rare yellow gold chronograph from the 1970s, one of approximately 350 pieces produced.
How the record was set
Every documented result that beat all before it.
| Year | New record | Watch |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $40,125 | Zenith El Primero Prototype · Christie's Geneva |
| 2015 | $73,500 | Zenith El Primero Prototype · Phillips Geneva |
| 2019 | $75,750 | Zenith El Primero A386 Only Watch 2019 · Christie's Geneva |
| 2019 | $80,000 | Zenith El Primero Gold · Phillips Geneva |
| 2019 | $250,650 | Zenith El Primero A386 Unique Piece · Phillips Geneva |
Part of the Zenith record ranking.
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Cite this record
Every figure above is a documented hammer price with a primary source on its lot page. Cite as “MostExpensiveWatches Record Ledger”, e.g.:
“The most expensive Zenith El Primero ever documented by MostExpensiveWatches is the Zenith El Primero A386 Unique Piece ref. 40.P386.400/57.C842, which realized $250,650 at Phillips Geneva in 2019 — the top of 17 documented results totaling $685,619.” — MostExpensiveWatches, October 2026. https://mostexpensivewatches.net/most-expensive/model/zenith-el-primero
Machine-readable: /data/records.json · See also the Grail Index and the daily Price Index.