More than 50 years after its introduction, this model is back with the new replica Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385. The recipe is simple and known, as being the same as used by the brand for the A386 and A384 Revival models. In short, we’re talking about an extremely faithful reproduction that has only been updated regarding materials and with minor mechanical upgrades. This is one of the advantages of using the same movement for the reproduction and the original watch… measurements can easily be respected.
Starting with the case, we find here a 37mm diameter just like the original. If the case looks familiar, it’s fully normal since the A384 and A385 used to share shapes and measurements, and so are the modern Revival watches. This new Revival A385 is thus sharing its case with the A384 watch. The top of the case retains the typically late-1960s radial brushed surface and sharp polished facets on the sides and on top of the lugs. The tonneau shape has also been respected and is entirely faithful to the original watch, with exact same dimensions. The main update concern the crystal, which is now made in sapphire in place of Plexiglas.
The reproduction doesn’t stop here and, of course, the dial has been faithfully recreated, including its funky smoked brown gradient colour, with a strong vignette effect that blackens towards the edges, while the centre is very bright. The sub-counters are silvery-white and the dial is framed by a tachymeter scale. In the same vein, the hands and applied markers are rhodium-plated, faceted and polished, with beige Super-LumiNova reminiscent of patinated tritium material. Just like the vintage A385, the central seconds hand stands out with its bright red colour. Finally, a date is found at 4.30 in a bevelled window… but the 1969 model featured it too!
Another update concerns the back of the watch, which now has a display sapphire, offering a view of the legendary El Primero calibre 400. This movement, with its tri-counter display and no additional complication other than the date, is the closest you can get from the original 1969 movement – it shares most of its components and the architecture is basically the same. This automatic column-wheel chronograph retains its 5Hz frequency (36,000 vibrations/hour) and now has a 50h power reserve.
The 1:1 best fake Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385 is available either on a light brown calf leather strap with protective rubber lining and stainless steel pin buckle or, to make it look even more faithful, a ladder stainless steel bracelet with a folding clasp that is a modern remake of the Gay Frères bracelets that came on early El Primero watches.