Experts! Can anybody confirm the exact factory crown used on the Mark 3 A386? Did they use more than one star variant- specifically the one with a smaller circle? Or were A386's all born with the same big circle star crown? My current A386 (with a D serial and star caseback) has the Zenith square logo on the crown (right size though) which I've been told is a service replacement. If anyone has a deep expertise on this area of the A386 I would love your help before I purchase the wrong crown for the cost of a nice watch. Attached photos are of my watch with its current crown and caseback. Thanks in advance!
Hi, I think your question has been discussed before but I don´t remember the thread exactly. Can you please post a pic from the crown you are offered and tell us the asking Price ? Big circle nato star crown should be the correct one IMHO but there are watches out with the small circle crown, which are stated as untouched and one owner watches. So who knows ? Best luck
Hi thanks for your insight. The ebay seller from Italy was helpful and lead me to the alpha hands sheet on A386 crowns (link below). He had both big circle and smaller circle crowns for sale. And, looking at the case number project, the watches with a serial number closest to mine are listed as having the big circle star crown... so I guess that's case solved. Ebay price for the crown is north of 1k euro... which is obviously.. a lot. http://alphahands.com/faq/zenith-a386-el-primero-crown/
It's a JB Champion mesh bracelet with the horned lugs. More fit for a Speedmaster, but a winning combo nonetheless.
@dlw4466 as far as I knew, crown with big circle is the original, and small circle was from mk3 or early service ... An absolutely guide to A386 I guess almost anyone of you knows is: http://alphahands.com/vintage-watch-research/zenith-a386-el-primero/