The last part of El Primero Revivals in 1969 completed the original steel trilogy.
Today, we bring you something new. But I bet it looks familiar. This is the Zenith A385 Revival, this watch is constantly being launched to pay tribute to the first generation of Zenith El Primeros.
These revival works are almost identical to the watches Zenith used to launch its iconic movement, which has been its most famous asset for 52 years. However, if looking at these Revival watches impressed me, it is that even though Zenith is known for a very special automatic chronograph movement, when El Primero was launched, the company was still working on some very good watch designs.
With A385, we have the same angular wine box shape as A384 Revival, you may remember from 2019. The turning point of the A385 is the smoky dial-the silver of the A384 is more sober, with a small black dial. . Fumé dials like this will continue to gain widespread attention in the Swiss replica watch industry and become the business card of the watch in the 1970s.
The new Chronomaster A385 Revival also marks the return of the beautiful trapezoidal bracelet we saw on the A384 Revival two years ago. “Ladder” because there is a gap between the central links of the bracelet. Of course, the original trapezoidal bracelet of ’69 was made by Gay Frères for Zenith, and it was so popular during this period that famous bracelet suppliers were sought after. If the bracelet is not what you need, you can save some dough and buy the A385 Revival on an expanded calfskin strap. All is well, but if you want to buy this watch, why not buy a killer bracelet?
In the past two years, Zenith replica has restored watches related to El Primero launched in 1969. Don’t forget, when El Primero first dropped, it took several case shapes – a regular round case made in the form of the famous A386 and a tilted wine barrel like the one you see here – and a few Dial design. More options followed, including clumsy “television-style” squares and A781, A782 and A783. In my opinion, this is the El Primeros of the 1970s. They wore huge “lobster style” bracelets.
However, the angular barrels of the original A384 and A385 heralded Defy and the coming decade. The A385 also has the aforementioned smoked dial, which represents the Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship in the 1970s. In my opinion, the original A385 was a watch from the late 1960s, and its eyes were trained in the next decade. Seiko’s quartz Astron was another development in 1969 that triggered a series of activities that would make the 1970s an extremely difficult decade for the Swiss mechanical watchmaking industry, but from a design point of view, there are many more great Things are going on.
A385 Revival is a work of the era that brings me back to the time of watchmaking before I was born, but it must be incredible to witness this. El Primero is one of three automatic chronographs introduced in 1969. 11 and Seiko’s 6139, although they only have an integrated timing device and a high beat frequency of 36,000 vph. Today, it is still the only new product that can still be purchased, and the appearance of this new Revival watch is similar to what was originally imagined.
this is correct. The watch we have here is basically the same as the watch it gave away. Of course, the movement has been technically improved, and is equipped with an open back and sapphire crystal, as well as a modern non-radioactive case. But with your eyes, you will see the original photos from the late 1960s reinvent you.
The Basics
Brand: Zenith
Model: Chronomaster A385 Revival
Reference Number: Refs 03.A384.400/385.C855, strap; and 03.A384.400/385.M385, bracelet
Diameter: 37mm
Thickness: 12.6mm
Case Material: Stainless steel
Dial Color: Fumé dial in tan
Indexes: Applied, luminous
Lume: Super-LumiNova
Water Resistance: 50 meters
Strap/Bracelet: Ladder bracelet or calfskin leather strap with rubber lining
The Movement
Caliber: El Primero 400 Automatic
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph, date
Diameter: 30mm
Power Reserve: 50 hours
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 36,000 vph
Jewels: 31