Zenith celebrates this year the 50th anniversary of the El Primero calibre, launched in 1969, as well as the anniversary of the first watch to be equipped with this revolutionary movement: the El Primero A384. With its distinctive and instantly recognisable design, the A384 introduced a new concept of style and substance to the world of chronographs, becoming an iconic collector's item. The El Primero A384 returns today in the form of a Revival series. The Revival is more than just a vintage-inspired watch, it is in fact a historically accurate reconstruction of one of the most iconic chronographs in watchmaking history. When it was first introduced in 1969, the El Primero automatic chronograph calibre was immediately a great success. It was the first automatic chronograph movement and exhibited a number of unique features that enabled it to stand the test of time and remain an exceptional movement for half a century: a high frequency of 36,000 hr, a column-wheel chronograph mechanism and an automatic winding system guaranteeing 50 hours of power reserve. Coinciding with the announcement of the movement, in 1969, the first watch to adopt it was also presented: the Zenith El Primero A384. As revolutionary as its movement, the A384 stood out for its original design. For the A384 Revival, Zenith sought to preserve and reproduce almost everything from the original watch, adopting a 'reverse engineering' approach in which every component is faithful to the original. Every part of the original 1969 A384 has been digitised in order to be faithfully reproduced, from the facetted 37 mm steel case to the dial with its black and white lacquered tachymeter scale. The only differences, or rather improvements, are the sapphire crystal replacing the acrylic one, the new case back replacing the solid steel one and the new version of the El Primero 400 chronograph movement, the culmination of half a century of constant fine-tuning and adjustment by Zenith. In keeping with its inherent retro look, the El Primero A384 Revival comes with a black alligator strap with rubber lining in the same shade, which completes the vintage look of the A384. A ladder-type integrated metal bracelet is also available, echoing the aesthetics of one of the original El Primero A384 bracelets from 1969. After the highly sought-after El Primero box set presented in January and the A386 Revival series in three gold alloys announced at Baselworld, a special edition A384 Revival will also be produced to celebrate El Primero's 50th anniversary. It will be the final piece in the El Primero Revival series, paying tribute to the Zenith watches that first used this glorious calibre. Unlike the A386, the A384 Revival is not being produced as a limited edition, making it an exclusive but more attainable piece of El Primero history.
Data sheet
EL PRIMERO A384 REVIVAL - 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION
- Reference: 03.A384.400/21.C815
- Original Revival of Reference A384 from 1969:
- Original 1969 case 37 mm in diameter
- El Primero automatic chronograph with column wheel
MOVEMENT
- Movement: El Primero 400 automatic
- Gauge: 13¼'' (diameter: 30 mm)
- Movement thickness: 6.6 mm
- Components: 278
- Rubies: 31
- Frequency: 36,000 alt/hour (5 Hz)
- Power reserve: min. 50 hours
- Finishes: oscillating mass with 'Côtes de Genève' motif
FUNCTIONS
- Hours and minutes in the centre
- Small seconds at 9 o'clock
- Chronograph:
- - Centre chronograph hand
- - 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock
- - 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock
- Tachymetric scale
- Date at 4:30
CASE, DIAL AND HANDS
- Diameter: 37 mm
- Opening diameter: 32.3 mm
- Thickness: 12.60 mm
- Glass: domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
- Back: transparent sapphire crystal
- Material: Stainless steel
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
- Dial: white lacquered dial with three black counters
- Hour markers: rhodium-plated, facetted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C3
- Hands: rhodium-plated, facetted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C3
STRAPS AND BUCKLES
- Strap: combined with a black alligator strap or a 'ladder' type bracelet
- Buckle: stainless steel pin buckle
