agreed on yuor last statement, maybe not so much so on A384/385, but for sure on A3817/3818, but try to find one of those in good conditions, they are RARE. Then again also A386 MKI are super rare, much rare than MKII or even more so MKIII. I dont think the market is still appreciating to the full extent the difference between the MKs as it happens in other cases/brands.
I think A384/385 get less attention from people for various reasons: - First of all they are pretty similar to one another, hence making them less rare if you sum the production numbers of the 2 - Second, which I think counts more, I think people think they are less attractive and overall more "standard" compare to A386/3817/3818: A386/3817 share a very peculiar and particular dial with 3 differently colored subdials, the A3818 has probably the best dial of the lot and is very rare.... - Third I think the shape of the case, even though overall pleasant, is less preferred (at least at the moment for current fashion tastes) than the more "time-less" shape of the A386. It is true that the A3817/3818 share the same case shape as the A384/385 but for those the rarity and beauty of the dial kind of compensate for it. The perfect storm is the A386: beautiful and peculiar dial, beautiful and time-less case design/shape, one of the 3 original references with the EP inside and hence historically important (in 1969 when it was launched onlt the A384/385/386 existed, the other references were slightly later), overall still relatively rare (2500 examples means it is not insanely rare but still relatively rare). I don't see the other references catching up any time soon to the A386, I actually see the price differential to grow, IMHO. Still a nice A3817/3818 could be a very good buy at current levels (10/15k USD) in the long run IMHO.
it is very hard to find a good 3817 or 3818. it took me months and months to find a great a3818. . .most of the a3817s i see are horribly polished and you can tell easily on that case when it loses sharpness
The A384/A385 seem to be plentiful, easy enough to find one of these on sale somewhere. The A386 are rarer and often possible to find one somewhere for sale at any given time. The A3817/A3818 are another kettle of fish, they don't come up often for a show and tell let alone for sale. The price of those is held back, imo, because of the amount of A384/A385 which can be used as donor cases and movements if one has the other dial spare.
“The perfect storm is the A386: beautiful and peculiar dial, beautiful and time-less case design/shape, one of the 3 original references with the EP inside and hence historically important “ Great point. The new homage tries hard, and it is a very nice execution as homages go, but the original A386’s esthetic design and execution is stellar. The designers must be commended for both their restraint and flamboyance. Hard to do. If you do not get it just right, it become garish.
it is a BEAUTY !!!! such a shame your chrono hands (sub register) are service.... pls find original ones !!!
Never hesitate to PM me when you see a set of original hands for sale. Till then, i don’t worry too much, the condition overwhelms.
This thread is killin' me, you guys gotta stop or I'll do something drastic! (Like finally get off my ass and get one.)
Updating this thread to link to updated knowledge concerning hands and crowns as more MkIII A386's are discovered and documented. https://omegaforums.net/threads/zenith-a386s-for-sale.117212/#post-1560535
Ordered the ladder bracelet for the vintage a386 from Zenith in March (just before the Covid shutdown). Finally came today!!!
@Charger_Vital would you be able to share a pic of the inside of the clasp? I'm curious how they have stamped the bracelet (text, logos, dates, etc.). Thanks-
