First found on the Defy 21 Land Rover, the finish is essentially a form of frosting accomplished by shooting tiny ceramic spheres at the case surface, giving it a fine, grained finish. The micro-blasted titanium case is also noteworthy. It does detract slightly from functionality since the central seconds hand can no longer record elapsed time, though it can still measure rate of travel with the tachymeter. Zenith did away with the seconds track and date window found on the standard A384, giving the dial a stark, utilitarian style. I absolutely love the clean look stemming from the streamlined design. Anyone who knows Zenith will understand that’s an A384, but different. On the wrist, the Shadow stands out in a subtle but striking manner, especially to a watch enthusiast. In fact, it looked to me more like a Bamford collaboration rather than a standard model. I was struck by how different it looked on the wrist distinct not only from the other El Primero chronographs, but against other offerings at the same price point. I had a visceral reaction when I first strapped on the Shadow: my heart sang, and a smile crept onto my face.
(For a more detailed look at the history of Gay Frères, click here.The El Primero A384 Revival that’s a faithful remake of the vintage original Initial thoughts Of the countless bracelets Gay Frères produced over its many decades as an independent firm, the ladder bracelet is one of the best known, primarily due to its close association with the Zenith El Primero.
Gay Frères is likely the most well-known producer of bracelets in all of watch history, supplying brands such as Rolex (which eventually acquired the company in the late 1990s), Audemars Piguet, Heuer, and Patek Philippe with metal bands to pair with their timepieces. That’s been corrected here, as Zenith went to great lengths to recreate the unconventional bracelet found on the A384 (and A386) that was designed by Gay Frères. One detail missing from the initial release last year was the ladder bracelet found on the original 1969 watch. When we last visited this watch, it was only available on a black alligator strap, and we mentioned at the time that it was “designed without compromise,” which is true – for the most part.
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