That pictures came from a short video in the instagram account of Bamford (@bamfordwatchdepartment), where Julien Tornare show a new prototype of Zenith based on A384, but in reverse panda



Any ideas? Another limited edition?

I can’t say cause poor image, but it looks interesting ...

 

I'm thinking a reissue of the A385, only a matter of time. Dials vary from dark grey fume to tan colour on the vintage. From those photos, assuming it is an A385 reissue, it looks like they have gone with the dark grey end of the spectrum.

Dark dial on general release followed by a special limited edition run of tan dials would be cool.

 

For sure it will come an A385 re-edition somewhere in time (we will see if they can be close to the fume look, and great range of colors including grey, green or tan), but I feel this is a limited edition but not a specific re-edition. I see more a reverse panda in black and white.

going in depth, I would love to see a revival of A3736, A3630 or even A277 ... but now they don’t have a case for any of them.

 

In your screengrab the dial does look like a uniform black colour. It's possible they have gone for a solid instead of a fume dial, just like in the A385 service dial:



Photo lifted from a dealers website:
https://www.vintagetimes.nl/product/1969-zenith-el-primero-brown-dial/

So many models I would like to see "revived", for now it would be better to stick to the El Primero line and further establish the classic pieces. The more successful manufacturers are known for their standout models, it's a good thing for Zenith to play on this strategy more.

Seeing as we are speculating on future designs, what do you think of an "evil" A384? Reverse panda with white Tachymetre ring. Worthy of a limited edition methinks.

 

Might be a good time to drop this photoshop mockup I made... It's the reverse panda dream:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2UBqIrHK3b/?igshid=tb9zr03ge1j2

 

I believe (and this is my desire) that Zenith will do an excellent work replicating the A385, so dial should be very close to the original (fumé). I hope so, a piece like A384 deserves it.

So I think it will be a reverse panda version of A384, with black dial. I hope it includes something spicy, close to UG evil, perhaps in line with @armored.wrist design.

I think you are right, @wristpirate, I see top models are those that remains in time, for years with small changes (submariner, moonwatch, nautilus, ...). Unfortunately since the 80s, Zenith made almost 3 complete change of its collection. That’s awful. I think that is one of the keys of success. And Zenith has Defy (new, more like Hublot), Pilot (nice as part of a great collection), Chronomaster (why the hell they discontinue the 38mm version ... perhaps to do a new one based on A386 case? And what about ugly skeleton chronomaster2?), Elite (recently changed)... and they don’t have foundations for the future.

 

Here it is, the new version of A384

What do you think??

 

I like that it’s titanium and not PVD. It looks good but it looks nothing like the Bamford “secret” release in the first post.

What’s the price? Limited edition?

 

8400 CHF, not limited

 

I REALLY like this new black titanium number...totally a 'fun' watch; not terribly legible with a tachy and no minute markes, but very cool!

 

dial is amazing!
Watch is nice, if they offer this dial on steel case I could consider to buy a new watch.
All black could become boring over the time.
But dial is really amazing

 

You only have to ask ... I would love the titanium case but with panda dial ... I guess dials can be exchanged

 

We should change also the caliber, the shadow has 4061 (el primero without data), the revival has EP 400, could be not so easy

 

Mmmm ... I didn’t noticed that! So moving dial and movement ... not imposible

 

This doesn't look like the watch in the first post, are you sure this is the same project?

What do they mean "quite unusual for us, date indication?"

 

They mean the watch has no date window (almost all ElPrimero watches include a window date at 4, very characteristic).

Julien Tornaire said he was showing a prototype of a new watch based on A384 ... this titanium version was released some weeks after that, and it is a based on A384. That’s why I used this post. But you are right, watch in his wrist is inverted Panda... perhaps something changed at the end?

 

While checking my Instagram ... you can check I asked Julien if it was the prototype he showed in the interview ... and he finally answer YES, it is

 

thanks for following up and keeping everyone informed, much appreciated.