Lou:

Thanks for posting this interesting message and for sharing your amazing collection of the early El Primeros . . . what a beautiful sight to behold.

I generally agree with your quick summary of the "who was first?", and thank you for the kind words about my research and writing on the subject. I have some new information, and will try to post an update, in the near future. It is clear that "El Primero" was third to get to market, but they had the first press conference and they had the great name . . . and the rest is history!!

Jeff

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

: *deep breath* First, full disclosure, I'm replying as a
: dyed-in-the-wool Primero enthusiast, so call this biased if you
: like. Second, I thought Jeff did a very good job explicating
: this in the Project 99 writeup. Third, the official birthday of
: El Primero, celebrated January 10, 1969, honors the presentation
: of movement prototypes to the press, interestingly not yet with
: the El Primero moniker. Which movement gets honors as the actual
: first depends on what first you are referring to: First press
: conference (Zenith), first international press conference (March
: 3, 1969 - Buren-Breitling-Hamilton-Heuer), first broad panoply
: of finished watches (April 1969 - BBHH), first watches
: commercially available and delivered in local market (Seiko),
: first watches commercially available and delivered in
: international market (BBHH). Pick your first.

: Not a lot of Primero on this forum, so I hope you will allow me:
:
:

: Cheers all,
: Lou