Prim watches are very close to my heart. This brand makes the only watches manufactured in the Czech republic from start to finish. As a Czech, I love to see my home country continue this technically wonderful watchmaking tradition that started in 1949.
This watch manufacture is not as large as the most famous watch brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, or Omega, but are not lacking any of the qualities of these most famous marques. I will share with you all the important facts about this watch brand from it’s history to different watch timepieces originally manufactured in the town of Nove Mesto nad Metuji in Czechoslovakia.
History of Prim Watches
Prim started out as a subsidiary of Chronotechna Sternberk by 16 people shortly after the end of World War II. Due to their creativity, as well as a great set of watchmaking skills, they were able to create the first prototype which they named SPARTAK. Once serial production started in 1957, Czechoslovakia became one of only 12 countries in the entire world capable of producing wristwatches.
The logo PRIM has introduced in the late 760s The primary logo, the so-called “loaf”, was too complicated designed by Josef Zid as the original “loaf” logo and would not work on a wristwatch. Therefore, i In 19698 the new simple logo had been designed by constructor Josef Zid. The manufacture also moved to the modern location and the company started to use the new name was found as well as the new company name ELTON hodinářská a.s. PRIM watches managed to manufacture up to 500,000 watches per year, right up until the Velvet Revolution.
Prim watches always were a symbol of timeless design. After 1989 the parent company, Chronotechna, was privatized separately from ELTON hodinářská. From that moment, the company focused on quality instead of mindless mass production of watches. As a result, PRIM watches have become known for their quality, as well as individual customer care.
How are Prim watches made?
ELTON hodinarska is the only Czech manufacture. They are capable of producing the entire PRIM watch from scratch. From the case to the mechanical movement, and the dials to the hands, ELTON hodinarska will manufacture and assemble a new PRIM watch from the ground up. While offering Swiss movement watches at bargain basement prices, it is these in house watches that are simply amazing.
Watch Case
ELTON hodinarska uses all the finest materials to manufacture PRIM watches from the standard stainless steel and gold, to the more modern titanium, silver, and bronze. They aren’t just any workshop, they employ craftsmen skilled with more than just the basics.
Movement
There are more than 130 parts inside each self produced PRIM in house movements. ELTON hodinarska currently manufactures 8 different in-house movements and it takes more than 2 hours just to make (turn) the movement base due to numerous openings.
ELTON hodinarska also utilizes Swiss automatic and quartz movements in certain PRIM watches to complement the top of the line in house pieces.
Printing Dials and Hands
ELTON hodinarska manufacture is able to customize the different colors of the dials, but more importantly, they perform this customization on PRIM watches by hand. Each luminescent hand is painstakingly done by hand, which anyone that has relumed a watch understands is very delicate work.
Assembling
After having all the parts ready, it’s time for ELTON hodinarska to assemble the watch. It takes around 8 hours to hand assemble a PRIM watch with the in house movement. On top of that, the assembled watch undergoes another two weeks of testing before the watch leaves the factory. These tests include all the standard tests from water resistance to timing accuracy to power reserve. There is nothing you can get from a watch double the price that you can not get from PRIM watches by ELTON hodinarska.
PRIM Watches
Prim watches are gaining popularity among many people. The PRIM Orlik is undoubtedly the most sought-after watch to ever come out of this watch manufacture. All 300 pieces of the original Orlik were handed to the Army stationed in the city of Olomouc on November 25th, 1965. Every single PRIM Orlik was stamped on the case back with a 65-XXX, the 65 signifying the production year followed by a serial number.
Currently there are many PRIM models manufactured by ELTON hodinarska, including a modern version of the classic Orlik.
PRIM Watches In-house Movements
Here you can see all the current in-house collections
PRIM ORLÍK II C
- Movement: PRIM caliber 98.01
- Case diameter without watch crown: 42 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 54.3 mm
- Lugs: 22 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L, screw crown
- Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: black, embossed signs, luminescent indexes
- Case Back: view-through, threaded
- Strap: caoutchouc strap
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
PRIM ORLÍK 38 kal. 105
- Movement: PRIM caliber 105
- Case diameter without watch crown: 38 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 49 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L Surface finish: brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel, screw crown Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: black with iluminated indexes
- Case Back: view-through, threaded
- Strap: caoutchouc strap
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
PRIM ORLÍK 38 kal. 95
- Movement: PRIM caliber 95
- Case diameter without watch crown: 38 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 49 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Case finish: brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel, screw crown
- Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: black with iluminated indexes
- Case Back: view-through, threaded
- Strap: caoutchouc strap
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
PRIM Sport 38
- Movement: PRIM caliber 95.00
- Case diameter without watch crown: 38 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 44.7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire cylindrical
- Dial: black, luiminescent dial
- Case Back: stainless steel, view-through, threaded
- Strap: calf leather strap and caoutchouc strap
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
PRIM DIPLOMAT 40 C (white, black or blue dial)
- Movement: PRIM caliber 98.00
- Case diameter without watch crown: 39.7 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 49.1 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L, pictogram filled with black ceramic
- Glass: sapphire cylindrical
- Dial: blue, embossed signs
- Back case: view-through, fixed by screws
- Strap: crocodille leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM PAVOUK 40 C (black, white,blue matte, grey dial)
- Movement: PRIM caliber 98.00
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 49 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L Surface finish: polished
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L, pictogram filled with black ceramic
- Glass: sapphire cylindrical
- Dial: black, embossed signs
- Case Back: view-through, fixed by screws
- Strap: leather strap Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM REPUBLIKA (Black or White Dial)
- Movement: : PRIM kalibr 103
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 45,7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-sandblasted
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire spheric with antireflex coating
- Dial:black,printed and embossed signs
- Back case: full,milled
- Strap:leather strap Water resistance 5 ATM
PRIM BRUSEL 42 N
- Movement: PRIM caliber 93
- Case diameter without watch crown: 42 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 52.9 mm
- Lugs: 22 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L, pictogram filled with black ceramic
- Glass: sapphire cylindrical
- Dial: silver, embossed indexes black print
- Case Back: view-through, fixed by screws
- Strap: crocodille leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM SPARTAK 43 (Black or White Dial)
- Movement: PRIM caliber 98.01
- Case diameter without watch crown: 43 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 54 mm
- Lugs: 22 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L, pictogram filled with black ceramic
- Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: black, embossed signs
- Case back: view-through, fixed by screws
- Strap: alligator leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM TYCHO BRAHE II (Black and Silver Dial)
- Movement: caliber 77.51
- Case diameter without watch crown: 42 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 52.6 mm
- Lugs: 22 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: black, white print, luminescents points
- Case Back: view-through, threaded
- Strap: alligator leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM CAERUS
- Movement: PRIM caliber 98.00
- Case diameter without watch crown: 43 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 43 mm
- Lugs: 22 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: brushed-sandblasted
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: black, white print
- Case Back: view-through, threaded
- Lower Case Back: sapphire
- Strap: calf leather strap Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM Automatic Movement
Here can see all the current automatic movement watches
PRIM LINEA 40 A (Black and White Dial)
- Movement: caliber 71
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 48.7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire
- Dial: light silver, black print
- Case Back: view-through, fixed by screws
- Strap: calf leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM SVATOVÁCLAVSKÉ 40 A (Silver or Black Dial)
- Movement: caliber 71
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 48.7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire
- Dial: light silver, black print
- Case Back: view-through, fixed by screws
- Strap: calf leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM OK-A
- Movement: caliber 73
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 48 mm
- Watch leg´s distance: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire
- Dial: black, white print, luminescent indexes
- Back case: without view-through, threaded
- Strap: NATO strap
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
Quartz Movement Watches
PRIM KLASIK 40 Q
- Movement: caliber 39
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 48.7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire
- Dial: silver, relief indexes
- Case Back: without view-through, threaded
- Strap: calf leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM KLASIK ČD 40 Q
- Movement: caliber 38
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 48.7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire
- Dial: white, blue print
- Case Back: without view-through, threaded
- Strap: calf leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM SVATOVÁCLAVSKÉ 40 Q
- Movement: caliber 38
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 48.7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: silver, black print
- Case Back: without view-through, threaded
- Strap: calf leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM PILOT
- Movement: caliber 38
- Case diameter without watch crown: 40 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 48.7 mm
- Lugs: 20 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L with black DLC Surface finish: sandblasted
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L with black DLC Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: black, luminescent indexes, white print
- Case Back: without view-through, threaded
- Strap: NATO strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
PRIM MUCHA MYSTERY
- Movement: caliber 37
- Case diameter without watch crown: 36 mm
- Case length across watch legs: 43.5 mm
- Lugs: 18 mm
- Case material: stainless steel 316L
- Surface finish: polished-brushed
- Watch crown: stainless steel 316L
- Glass: sapphire convex
- Dial: white colour, black and blue print
- Case Back: without view-through, threaded
- Strap: calf leather strap
- Water resistance: 5 ATM
Here you can see all the Quartz Movements watches.
Are Prim watches good investments?
Yes and No. If you are looking to get your hands on the limited edition, the answer is yes. The reason why these editions are difficult to obtain is that they are very limited. They might make only 100 watches with the in-house movement.
It usually takes at least four weeks to get your hands on the PRIM watch you desire as ELTON hodinarska makes these pieces to order. Yes, ELTON hodinarska doesn’t have stock lying around, especially when talking about in house pieces. I actually ordered the PRIM Orlik II Bronze L.E. and it has finally been shipped, four weeks after my full payment. This edition is limited to 250 pieces.
As mentioned earlier, the original Orlik is now selling above $12,000, but that means you can get one. It’s just like a unicorn, super rare and hard to find.
Where to buy Prim Watches
If you are looking to buy PRIM watches in person, the only option is to fly to the Czech republic. They have four official boutiques and a few Authorized dealers, every one located in the Czech Republic. The best one to visit would be the Nove Mesto nad Metuji boutique which just happens to be the location of the ELTON hodinarska manufacture.
The other option to place an order or buy PRIM watches is to shop at Value Your Watch. You will be able to get in touch with ELTON hodinarska, and thanks to the partnership with Value Your Watch, we will be able to help you get the watches you are looking for.
Prices of PRIM Watches
- The average price for PRIM in-house non-limited watches is around $4,000
- The average price for PRIM automatic movement non-limited watches is around $2,000
- The average price for PRIM quartz movement is around $700
In conclusion
PRIM watches are well known among special watch enthusiasts who would love to get their hands on some of their pieces. Making one watch takes a lot of time, and PRIM knows how to make great watches. They have three different movements they use from in-house, automatic and quartz. When it comes to resell value, definitely focus on limited editions, which are hard to come by. One of the reasons many of the limited edition watches are not seen on the secondary market, people just do not want to resell them.
Due to Value Your Watch partnership with ELTON Hodinarska, a.s. People like you will be able to get hands on these great watches worldwide much easier.
