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Zenith A386 chronograph bridge - correct details

  1. subregister Oct 27, 2020

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    I've spend some time looking at chronograph bridges on the known A386s (from the Alpha Hands database).
    Just, because...well, because that is what one does during a pandemic.

    On the chronograph bridge I generally see four different sets of text, only two of which I believe are intended for the Zenith A386:
    • ‘ZENITH’, with ‘THIRTY-ONE 31 JEWELS’, and then ‘3019’ above ‘PHC’
      • Seen across all three executions, including all 3 of the Mk 3 production batches. Correct.
    • ‘ZENITH’, with ‘THIRTY-ONE 31 JEWELS’ and ‘UNADJUSTED’ text below, and then ‘3019’ above ‘PHC’. ‘PHC’ sits within a rectangle
      • I see these bridges in a few of the 538Dxxx series (Mk 1), but enough to believe they are correct.
    • Only ‘SWISS’ with ‘3019’ and ‘PHC’
      • These we find on the questionable xxxD460 pieces, as well as other pieces that have had a significant number of parts replaced. I am not sure if this is a Zenith component, but at the least I do not believe it was originally used for the A386.
    • ‘3019’ and ‘PHC’ only
      • As with the above, we find these on the questionable xxxD460 pieces, and others with numerous replacement parts. I do not believe these are original A386 components.
    • Lastly, there are pieces that show either ‘400’ or ‘400Z’, with no text
      • Chronograph bridges stamped ‘400’ were used in later caliber 400 pieces introduced in 1987, and ‘400Z’ for pieces introduced in 1998. Neither original to the A386.
    zenithA386-chronograph-bridge-2x2text.jpg

    More details on alphahands.com, but wanted to share here.