Oh, my old bones! You want me to talk about this watch, the Zenith A386, huh? Well, I ain’t no fancy watch person, but I’ll tell ya what I see. This here watch, it’s got a name, Zenith A386. Sounds kinda like a tractor part, don’t it?
This Zenith A386, it’s somethin’ else. They say it was made way back in 1969. That’s before some of you youngins were even a twinkle in your daddy’s eye! Back then, things were built to last, not like the junk they make nowadays. This watch, they call it El Primero. Sounds Spanish to me!
They say this El Primero was the first of its kind. Like the first chicken to lay an egg, I reckon. And this Zenith A386, it was the one that showed it off. Like puttin’ your best hen in the county fair, ya know?
It’s got these little dials, three of ’em. Different colors, like a patchwork quilt. Folks call it a “chronograph.” That’s a fancy word for a stopwatch, far as I can tell. You use it to time things, like how long it takes to boil an egg or how long your husband’s been gone at the bar. Hee hee!
They say this Zenith A386 has a “high frequency.” That means it ticks real fast, 36,000 times an hour. That’s faster than a hummingbird’s wings, I imagine. I ain’t never counted, but that’s what they tell me. It is all about this El Primero movement.
- This El Primero, they keep talkin’ about.
- It’s like the engine in this here watch.
- Makes it tick, makes it run.
- And this Zenith A386, it was the first one to have it.
Now, they made new ones, these Zenith A386 watches. They call ’em “Revival.” Like bringin’ somethin’ back from the dead, I suppose. They made ’em outta fancy stuff, gold and such. Ain’t nobody need a gold watch to tell the time, but I guess some folks like that kinda thing. More money than sense, I say.
This old Zenith A386, the original one, it’s a real treasure. Like findin’ a four-leaf clover or a lucky penny. If you got one, you hold onto it tight. It is one of the most iconic chronographs, whatever that means.
I heard some folks talkin’ ’bout a “ladder bracelet.” Sounds like somethin’ you’d climb on to get to the roof, not somethin’ you’d wear on your wrist! But I guess that’s what they used to put on these watches, these Zenith A386s. A metal band, all linked together like a ladder.
Some of these new Zenith A386, they call them “Limited Edition”. Means they only made a few. Like when Bessie the cow only had one calf instead of twins. They say this Limited Edition copies the first El Primero. Good for them!
They say you can take these watches to a special place, a “Manufacture.” Sounds like a factory to me. And they can tell ya all about it. When it was made, what it’s made of, all that stuff. Like takin’ your prize pig to the vet to get its shots, I reckon. This Zenith A386 sure is somethin’ special, they say.
So, this Zenith A386, it’s an old watch. A special watch. A watch with a story. It is all about that El Primero thing. Like a family heirloom, passed down through generations. If you ever see one, you take a good look. It’s a piece of history, right there on your wrist. I heard it is good to get it confirmed, like I confirm my husband is snoring every night.
Well, I’ve talked your ear off long enough. My stories are probably about as clear as mud. This Zenith A386 and El Primero, they are like old friends, been together a long time. But I hope I gave ya a little somethin’ to think about. This old gal’s gotta go tend to her chickens.
