The bracelet is an integral part of the A384 remake – though it’s also available on a strap – and Zenith also got it right. Just as importantly, the details of the case are true to the original, including the facets on the sides and lugs, and more crucially, the fine, radial brushed finish on the bezel. In fact, the finishing of the case seems superior – neater and sharper – than on the original, based on memory of a handful of “new old stock” A384s I’ve examined in the past. The case has the same 37 mm diameter, and at 12.6 mm is almost (or maybe exactly) the same height as the original, though it has the modern necessity of a display back.
The remake nails it in reproducing the look and feel of the original. The El Primero A384 Lupin The Third Edition that was available only in Japan.
Romain Marietta, the brand’s chief of products, also indicated during a recent conversation that the A384 will continue to be the base for limited editions, while the A386 will not be reproduced again except in exceptional instances since it is synonyms with the El Primero anniversary. The easily recognisable design has made the tonneau-shaped A384 a popular base for a variety of limited editions, including one based on a fictitious watch featured in the Japanese manga Lupin III. One reason the A384 doesn’t quite have the stature of the round and relatively-ageless A386 is also one of its most distinctive qualities: a tonneau- or cushion-shaped case that instantly identifies it as a watch of the late 1960s and 1970s. While the A386 is the iconic El Primero chronograph – and today the most valuable – the A384 was introduced at the same time (along with the A385), making it part of the debut range of El Primero watches. On the other hand, the El Primero A384 Revival is a faithful remake – including a “ladder” bracelet – that’s part of the regular collection, and also affordable. The chronograph movement celebrated its 50th anniversary last year with several commemorative A386 limited editions, including a one-off in platinum for charity, but most were in gold and thus pricey. Zenith, as it happens, is easily able to, thanks to its long-lived El Primero. There are few brands that can make modern-day reissues of historical watches powered by the same movement as the vintage original. Share Facebook Linkedin Twitter Weibo Instagram
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