Zenith revives 1969 A385 El Primero with eye-catching gradient dial .
SPECIFICATIONS :
Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385
Reference : 03 . A384.400 / 385 . M385 ( steel bracelet ), Reference : 03 . A384.400 / 385 . C855 ( calf leather strap )
Case : 37mm steel with sapphire back , 50 meters water resistance .
Movement : El Primero 400 Automatic with 36,000 Vph ( 5 Hz ), power-reserve of 50 hours , column-wheel .
Functions : Hours and minutes in the center , small seconds at 9 o ’ clock . Chronograph : Central chronograph hand , 12-hour counter at 6 o ’ clock , 30-minute counter at 3 o ’ clock . Tachometric scale . Date indication at 4:30 .
Dial : Smoked brown gradient dial with whitecolored counters ,
Hour-markers : Rhodium-plated , faceted hour markers and hands , coated with beige Super-LumiNova
Bracelet : “ Ladder ” bracelet with stainless steel double folding clasp , or light brown calf leather strap with protective rubber lining and a stainless-steel pin buckle .
Price : $ 7,900 ( leather strap ) and 8,400 CHF ( approximately $ 9,500 ) for steel bracelet model .
Zenith reaches back to 1969 once again with its latest Revival debut , the Chronomaster Revival A385 , a nearexact 37mm reproduction of the original El Primeropowered model from 1969 .
As one of very first automatic chronographs , and the very first operating at a high frequency of 36,000 vph , Zenith ’ s A385 debuted alongside the Zenith A384 and A386 . The A385 was notable for its smoked brown gradient pattern , which Zenith revives on this new release .
To accurately echo the original , Zenith says it conducted a “ reverse engineering ” of the 1969 watch to create the new model . As a result , each part of the A385 ’ s 37mm tonneau-shaped stainless-steel case ( even its pump-style pushers ) mimics the original . The only differences here are the domed sapphire crystal , which replaces an acrylic version , and a clear sapphire back that replaces instead the original ’ s closed solid steel caseback .
The clear back offers a view of the newer El Primero caliber , Zenith ’ s 400 chronograph movement with columnwheel , that powers the watch .
SMOKING DIAL But it ’ s the dial here that draws eyes , and Zenith has nailed the attractive brown gradient dial , which notably features a vignette effect that blackens towards the edges . This colorful slight of hand appears to deepen the dial , mimicking the light-bending effect of a domed crystal , but without the dome .
To further deepen the nostalgia , Zenith adds the same red chronograph central second hand and silvery-white chronograph counters found on the original model .
Zenith offers the Chronomaster Revival A385 in two options . One is equipped with a steel “ ladder ” bracelet , a modern remake of the Gay Frères bracelets Zenith utilized on those original models . The second option is a light brown calf leather strap that will develop a patina over time .
The Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385 is available at Zenith Boutiques and online shop , as well as at authorized retailers .
Price : $ 7,900 ( leather strap ) and 8,400 CHF ( approximately $ 9,500 ) for steel bracelet model .
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