PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL. CASE SIZE WITHOUT CROWN: 42 mm/1.7 in. CASE BACK: transparent, threaded. CASE SIZE WITH LEGS: 54,3 mm/2.14 in WATERPROOF: 10 ATM

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1 PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL

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3 PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL The wristwatch PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL is the second-generation private edition of its predecessor the legendary Czechoslovak wristwatch PRIM ORLIK made in 1965 to meet army requirements. The first PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL wristwatch was given to the institution of the Chief of the General Staff of Czech Armed Forces as a Czechoslovak watchmaking legend with its request for durable military wristwatches. The wristwatch boasts a hand-made, self-winding movement caliber PRIM produced in its entirety at our factory in Nove Mesto nad Metuji. CASE SIZE WITHOUT CROWN: 42 mm/1.7 in CASE BACK: transparent, threaded CASE SIZE WITH LEGS: 54,3 mm/2.14 in WATERPROOF: 10 ATM WATCH LEG S WIDTH: 22 mm/0.87 in GLASS: convex sapphire DIAL: black, embossed, luminous fill CROWN: stainless steel, threaded HANDS AND STARS: stainless steel, 18K gilding

4 T-72M1 type of the tank from which the material was used to manufacture the wristwatch for the Chief of the General Staff of Czech Armed Forces Bogie wheel s shock absorber The right part of the tank shock absorber ready to be lathed for the wristwatch case Semi-finished product, 15 mm high, 60 mm in diameter. A case-to-be.

5 CASE The case of PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL wristwatch for the Chief of the General Staff of Czech Armed Forces was made from a tank T-72M1 shock absorber produced in The tank served with the 33rd Tank Regiment in Přáslavice, Czechoslovakia. Later, it was placed in the military facility 4218 Rančířov. In 2009, the Czech Army assigned this tank to the Military Research Institute in Brno to test ammunition and ballistic protection efficiency. Since 2013, the tank has been listed with the state enterprise for military equipment engineering and production at the VOP CZ company. The original turret was lent to the Institute of Military History to be displayed in a museum and the chassis stayed at the VOP CZ for further research. Semi-finished case Ring Housing

6 Photographs of the original PRIM ORLÍK wristwatch from Image: David Kraus

7 PRIM ORLÍK Development of the wristwatch PRIM ORLÍK started in Nové Město nad Metují following the request of the Czechoslovak Army in The Army launched the PRUVOD-A project to explore watercourses and the divers wristwatches. The divers had to time their work under water as well as measure decompression or check the time with a single glance at their watches. The Army laid down the following requirements: - Waterproof up to 60 m (200 feet) - The digits and hands to be reliably visible in muddy water and complete darkness within 30 cm (12 inches) without any external light source - Shock resistant during transport and under water - No function disturbances under temperatures from -10 C (14 F) to +45 C (+113 F) from the air and 0 C (32 F) to +26 C (+79 F) in the water - Resistance to sudden temperature changes - Acceleration resistant up to 8G - 1 year warranty for regular use and 2 years in storage - 5 year lifespan for use and 10 years in storage 300 pieces of PRIM ORLÍK wristwatches were made to meet the Army s requirements in 1965 with serial numbers and manufacture dates engraved on the case back: 001/ /1965. The PRIM ORLÍK wristwatches were distributed to the army divers, the 7th Special Purpose Airborne Regiment in Holešov and the Military Intelligence Service. The dial, hands and mark at the rotating bezel were painted with radioactive RSB-3. It may have been said that the watches could be worn without any health risks, but it was still recommended to take them off while sleeping. From today s perspective, these were the very first sports or outdoor watches made in Czechoslovakia. The original wristwatch PRIM ORLÍK from 1965 has been without question the most valued model amongst Prim collectors. The name of these durable wristwatches ORLÍK was inspired by the name of the armored train Orlík used by the Czechoslovak Legion on the Trans-Siberian Railway and in Vladivostok during the Russian Civil War in

8 Final drawing of the PRIM ORLÍK from 1965 A diver wearing a PRIM ORLÍK wristwatch (image: PRIM wristwatches, pg. 111)

9 FACTORY TESTING Six prototypes of wristwatches PRIM ORLÍK were manufactured in 1963 and tested in the factory under the supervision of a representative of the Ministry of National Defense. The wristwatches were first frozen at -10 C (14 F) for 24 hours and then inserted into a kiln at +45 C (+113 F). Not a single piece stopped nor exceeded an acceptable margin of accuracy error. Character luminescence tests and bezel reading tests were conducted with the Secchi disc and proved that the watches could be read up to 30 cm (12 inches). The wristwatches were dropped from 2.5 m (8 feet) to the parquet block floor and no malfunction nor change in accuracy was observed. The wristwatches were waterproof-tested for 8 ATM and passed without difficulties or defects. MILITARY TESTING The Army tested four prototypes in 1964 for several months. The watches were tested for mechanical and climatic resistance, water tightness, and ease of use. The wristwatches were also tested during a parachute drop when they had to resist an acceleration of 12Gs. They were dropped in a transport case 120 times from 3 m (10 feet) onto a concrete floor. During the transport test, they were put into a PRUVOD-A mock package, loaded into the Praga V3S military truck and transported over 1080 km (670 miles) on roads and 60 km (40 miles) in rough terrain. The PVC strap was put to a test as well. It did not get brittle at low temperatures nor did the tensile strength become soft or loose when worn. The wristwatches were tested by the soldiers who wore them not only at work but also at home or outdoors. They kept detailed records about the wristwatches and eventually submit a detailed report. Colonel Zelenka, Deputy Commander of Engineer Corps, evaluated: The watches were worn during basketball, volleyball and mainly during games of bowling with about bowling throws equaling a sudden change of the direction of movement. They were also frozen in ice and were consequently boiled for about 2-3 mins because they were forgotten about! Military divers tested water-tightness in m (30-70 feet) during 15 dives and underwater tasks. The high water-tightness was proven by the test when the wristwatch was under the pressure of 10.5 ATM, which roughly equals about 105 m (345 feet) under water. The final military testing report reads: Long-term tests proved that the wristwatches are compatible with preliminary technical requirements even after long use.

10 PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL in stainless steel case

11 MOVEMENT CALIBER The PRIM ORLÍK GENERAL wristwatch boasts a hand-made movement caliber PRIM with 99 % of components produced in-house. The only component purchased is the balance spring. MANUFACTURED SINCE: 2010 TIME DISPLAY: 3 hands and calendar window MOVEMENT TYPE: mechanical, self-winding ACCURACY: -6/+24 seconds a day SIZE: diameter 29.6 mm/1.17 in height 6.7 mm/0.27 in OSCILLATOR FREQUENCY: swings an hour (3 Hz) WINDING SPAN: at least 46 hours CALIBRE FUNCTION: basic time information including enlarged date NUMBER OF JEWELS: 22 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: gilded or nickled movement, Incabloc shock absorber

12 MANUFACTURING VARIANTS Blue face, titanium case Sand face, bronze case

13 (number of stars is just an example) White face, stainless steel Black face, gold case

14 A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRIM WRISTWATCH MANUFACTURE The history of PRIM wristwatches dates back to 1949 when the then-chronotechna company opened a branch in Nove Mesto nad Metuji. This manufacturer soon focused on wristwatch production which would become quite unique. At that time, only eight countries in the world were capable of serial production. Thanks to PRIM wristwatches, Czechoslovakia was one of them. Our engineers put their backs into developing their own special mechanical movements called PRIM Caliber 50, drawing on the older caliber of the French LIP Company. Being produced serially, the caliber was truly unique. The first blueprint came to light in 1952 and consistently developed until 1956 when the very first collection of Czechoslovak wristwatches was launched. Another two years were spent on testing: every single component was required to work without any defects for at least 15 years. The watches needed to be accurate, reliable and durable. The PRIM wristwatches have been truly unique from the very They were used as an exclusive gift for numerous politicians and representatives of Czechoslovakia. One of them was the then-president Antonin Zapotocky who was given a wristwatch with the serial number 4 for his 72nd birthday. OUR MILESTONES a Chronotechna Company branch opened in Nove Mesto nad Metuji, manufacturing wristwatches first Czechoslovak wristwatch model Spartak PRIM ORLÍK manufactured to fit the requirements of the Czechoslovak Army first luxury wristwatch model Diplomat first civilian sports wristwatch PRIM Sport first generation sports wristwatch PRIM Sport of second generation aviation wristwatch PRIM Automatic, a collection with automatic winding for Czechoslovak Air Force pilots the complete manufacture of mechanical movements was renewed at Nove Mesto nad Metuji PRIM ORLÍK second generation The Elton hodinářská company becomes a proud member of the CZECHOSLOVAK GROUP a.s.

15 image: David Kraus Spartak Diplomat Orlík 1965 Sport, first generation Sport, second generation Pilot, with automatic winding

16 ELTON hodinářská, a.s. Náchodská Nové Město nad Metují ,