Swipe photos
Chronograph El Primero Chronograph El Primero Chronograph El Primero Chronograph El Primero Chronograph El Primero Chronograph El Primero Chronograph El Primero Chronograph El Primero
lot 26

Daniel Roth

Chronograph El Primero

Estimate CHF 8 000 / CHF 10 000
Starting bid CHF 8 000
Hammer price CHF 18 000
Total bids 25
Buyer’s premium will not be charged

Specification

CaseStainless steel case, with a sapphire caseback
StrapDark blue leather strap (not original) unbranded pin buckle
DialDark blue dial with applied Roman numerals, 60 seconds-, 30 minutes- and 12 hours counter, date indication at 4 o'clock, small second at 9 o'clock
MovementRhodium-plated automatic movement with column wheel chronograph, Zentih El Primero base movement
Cal.DR500
Movement No.138213
Case No.2070
D=38x41 mm

Condition report

Case:Very good, only small signs of wear
Strap:Very good, only small signs of wear
Dial:Very good, mint condtion
Movement:Very good, working properly
Amplitude (Dial on top/Lift angle 52):Approx 260 degrees
Accuracy (Dial on top):Approx + 8 sec/day
Box:Yes

Details

A fine, very attractive and rare stainless steel chronograph wristwatch from the haute horlogerie Swiss watch brand Daniel Roth, founded in 1989 by Daniel Roth, the Swiss watchmaker of French origin, and active until the 2010s. Reference launched in 1996, estimated production period: circa 2000–2002. Double ellipse-shaped stainless-steel case measuring 38 x 41mm, 11.4mm thick, sapphire caseback with engraved brand logo and case serial number. Dark-blue dial with guilloché pattern, brushed chapter ring, pad-printed white Roman numerals and applied ‘pearl’ 5-minute markers. DR500 caliber, self-winding, 1/10-second high-frequency balance, power reserve up to 50 hours. Functions – indication of time in hours and minutes, small seconds hand at 9 o’clock, chronograph with central seconds, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, date aperture between 4 and 5 o’clock. Dark-blue leather strap, stainless steel Daniel Roth pin buckle.

Lot essay

Throughout its timeline, the Daniel Roth brand used many high-end chronograph calibers in their collection, including hand-wound or automatic movements of both vintage and modern production from Nouvelle Lémania, Zenith, Girard-Perregaux, Frédéric Piguet, as well as in-house movements.

In the early period of the brand’s development, from 1989 to around 1995, when the focus was on collector’s watches, Daniel Roth wrist chronographs tended to use high-end hand-wound calibers, of both modern and vintage production, for example, the superb Nouvelle Lémania 2320. From about 1995–1996, after the brand was acquired by the Singaporean Hour Glass luxury retailer, the collection strategy changed, and the share of practical and everyday wearable automatic watches began to grow very rapidly. In the case of chronographs, in 1996 this led to the development of automatic models fitted with caliber 400 – known by the nickname El Primero – from the Swiss watch factory Zentih. Based on Daniel Roth’s caliber 400 (designation in the initial period) or DR500 (late period), Daniel Roth chronographs were the main offering of automatic chronographs in the collection until the brand’s shutdown in the 2010s. All Daniel Roth ‘El Primero’ chronographs have a common amusing feature – the date indicator digit is in a reclining position, the opposite to the vast majority of contemporary Swiss chronographs.

The present lot, featuring the DR500 caliber developed on the base of the Zentih El Primero movement, is one of the rarest Daniel Roth chronographs, featuring a superb dial in a deep blue tone.

While Zentih chronographs tended to use the mid-finish of the El Primero caliber, Daniel Roth gave it a tangible touch of haute horlogerie – with perlage, straight grinding, polished sinks and bevels (to be honest – quite modestly), handsome wheels, blued screws and solarization, though they were not brought to such aesthetic perfection as in the finishing of collector’s examples with the Nouvelle Lémania 2320. However, it should be understood that Daniel Roth 'El Primero' chronographs had a different purpose – they were luxury watches for everyday wear, simpler in execution and therefore more affordable than collectible models. This strategy paid off, and over the course of about two decades, a wide variety of designs were released. Daniel Roth ‘El Primero’ chronographs at different periods were designated as the reference S247 (initial period), then as 247.X (late period), and to us it seems to be an extremely interesting topic for research and collecting.

Our research found that during the entire production span of this reference at least five main generations were released, each of which has both basic and rare versions. The present example corresponds to the fourth generation Type A, and features a superb dial in a deep blue tone. It should be noted that this is an extremely rare version that seldom appears on the market of previously-worn watches – one of the rarest in the entire production span of reference S247/247.X, which only increases the attractiveness of this lot as a collectible.

Reasons to bid

According to our knowledge the present lot, featuring the DR500 caliber developed on the base of the Zentih El Primero movement, is one of the rarest Daniel Roth chronographs, featuring a superb dial in a deep blue tone. Therefore, the Daniel Roth Masters Chronograph ‘El Primero’ Ref. S247.ST.SL would appear to be an extremely attractive purchase for the collector due to its rare branded design, and the rarest dial execution. It is easily recognizable and instantly memorable, and represents one of the most spectacular pages in the chronology of excellent wrist chronographs by this remarkable watchmaker and the brand he founded.

Brand info

Daniel Roth, considered to be one of the most important modern watchmakers, has been hailed a visioner of high-end complicated mechanical watchmaking. In 1989, he founded his own brand after fifteen years as the leading watchmaker at Breguet, where he recreated the classic Breguet style and developed some iconic watches, including tourbillon, chronograph, perpetual calendar pieces, as well as the charismatic Ref. 3130, inspired by Breguet’s pocket watch No. 5 of 1794. For his own brand, Daniel Roth developed a unique style, a kind of late-20th century Breguet with a double ellipse-shaped Ellipsocurvex case design, instantly recognisable amongst watch connoisseurs, ruthenium-plated guilloché dials and blued steel arrow hands. Among Daniel Roth’s masterpieces, the tourbillons and the perpetual calendars are probably the most memorable and desirable. In 1994, looking for opportunities to develop the brand further, he sold the business to the Singaporean Hour Glass luxury retailer, and finally left it after it was again sold to Bulgari in 2000. Nevertheless, his approach to complicated watchmaking and inimitable style were still preserved in the Daniel Roth collection under Bulgari’s supervision until 2010, when the production of collections with the Daniel Roth brand name ceased to continue. Therefore, Daniel Roth’s watches are now regarded as very attractive collectibles.