1969 was a big year for the Swiss watch industry. Omega’s Speedmaster made it to the moon and both Heuer and Zenith took automatic chronographs to market for the first time.
Zenith also introduced three distinct stainless steel watches, among them the A385, a tonneau-shaped steel chronograph with a brown gradient dial, which the maison describes as the first smoked dial ever to made.
This week the A385 is making a comeback in the form of a Chronomaster Revival watch that has been designed as a faithful but modern facsimile of the original.
Zenith used original blueprints and production plans to make every part of the A385’s 37mm tonneau-shaped stainless steel case, pump-style pushers and smoked brown gradient dial with a vignette effect that blackens towards the edges.
The only differences are the domed sapphire crystal instead of an acrylic glass and the display back instead of the closed solid steel case back, offering a glimpse of the El Primero 400 chronograph movement.
It goes on sale today with either a steel bracelet for CHF 8,400 or light brown calf leather strap for CHF 7,900.
