Zenith, the Swiss watchmaker that has been reaching for the stars since 1865, home to the legendary El Primero caliber, an icon of precision.
Zenith
Founded in Le Locle, Switzerland, in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot, Zenith revolutionized watchmaking by bringing together under one roof all the crafts necessary to create a watch. At just 22 years old, its founder dreamed of reaching the pinnacle of precision, and named the manufacture after the highest point in the sky.
In 1969, it introduced El Primero, the first high-frequency automatic chronograph capable of measuring tenths of a second. More than 2,330 chronometric certifications attest to a watchmaker that continues to manufacture its own movements with a passion for craftsmanship and a pioneering spirit.
Two wireless radio enthusiasts, Karl Hassel and Ralph H.G. Mathews, founded the Chicago Radio Laboratory on a kitchen table in Chicago. They began by building radio equipment for other hobbyists, laying the groundwork for what would later become one of the most iconic brands in American electronics.
The name 'Z-Nith' is derived from the call sign of the founders' amateur radio station, 9ZN.
Under the leadership of businessman and pioneer Commander Eugene F. McDonald, Jr., the fledgling company was officially incorporated as Zenith Radio Corporation. This new chapter would mark the beginning of decades of innovation in radio and, later, in television.
Zenith introduced the world's first portable radio, a milestone that transformed the public's relationship with communication technology. Within a few years, this was followed by the first AC-powered home receivers (1926) and the first automatic button tuning (1927).
In 1927, the famous motto was also coined: "The Quality Goes In Before The Name Goes On."
Zenith launched the first all-electronic television station, beginning experimental broadcasts that, at the FCC's request, continued even during World War II. The company thus cemented its pioneering role in the nascent television industry.
Following the Lazy Bones wired remote control (1950) and the Flash-Matic wireless remote (1955), Zenith launched Space Command, the first truly practical wireless remote control for televisions. This invention revolutionized home television viewing around the world.
Zenith would win an Emmy in 1997 for its innovations in remote controls.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officially adopted the FM stereo radio transmission system developed by Zenith. This standard is still in use worldwide and stands as one of the company's most enduring technical legacies.
The FCC adopted the digital television transmission system developed by Zenith, marking the beginning of the HDTV era in the United States. The following year, the company received Emmy Awards for its contributions to the development of high-definition television.
In 1988, Zenith demonstrated the first partially digital HDTV simulcast system.
Zenith merged with LG Electronics, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the South Korean global innovator. The merger combined LG's technical, financial, and commercial strengths with the Zenith brand's prestige and expertise in digital HDTV.
Today, Zenith's R&D laboratory in Lincolnshire, Illinois, serves as the headquarters for LG's research operations in the United States.
More than a century and a half later, Zenith continues to measure the infinite with the same boldness as the young watchmaker who gazed up at the sky in Le Locle. Each caliber is a testament to the fact that precision, when cultivated with patience, becomes art.
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