This year at Dubai’s LMVH watch fair, Zenith brought back the spirit of the 1960s with a brand new El Primero edition. The El Primero A384 Revival was first introduced last year, as the brand celebrated 50 years since becoming the first watchmaker in the world to unveil an automatic integrated chronograph watch. As in both 1969 and 2019, the updated 2020 model is housed in a stainless-steel tonneau case.
Back in the 1960s, the manufacture worked with the famous strap manufacturer Gay Fères to create the perfect bracelet. The result was the so-called ladder bracelet, which was notably comfortable and – in comparison to the sporty steel bracelets of the time – very elegant in its appearance. It is this design which is featured on the new edition.
The El Primero A384 Revival is powered by the self-winding calibre El Primero 400, which has an approximate 50-hour power reserve. It is equipped with a small seconds at 9 o’clock, a central chronograph hand, a 12-hour-counter at 6 o’clock, a 30-minute-counter at 3 o’clock and a tachymetre scale. Additionally, a date indication is positioned between 4 and 5 o’clock. The model’s panda-design counters contrast with the white lacquered dial, over which tick faceted rhodium-plated hands coated with Super-LumiNova.
The 37mm watch (true to the size of the original) is water-resistant to 50m, and the sapphire crystal on both the front and back benefit from anti-reflective treatment. The model is priced at 8,300 euros.
