As the contemporary successor to the renowned Zenith A386, one of the pioneering round-cased steel El Primero references from 1969, the latest execution of Zenith’s Chronomaster Original introduces a new reinterpretation of the iconic tricolor dial by adopting a bold black dial base. This debut marks the debut of this color combination within the 38mm stainless steel case.
Accounting for the new color option, consequently all other elements, including the date display in the trapezoid window at 04:30 and the 1/10th of a second and 10-second chronograph scales, had to be inverted from white to black and vice versa.
While seamlessly preserving the unique aesthetics of the A386 with its multiple scales, the Chronomaster Original ingeniously incorporates a 1/10th of a second chronograph into its design. It showcases a central red chronograph second hand that completes one full rotation of the dial in 10 seconds.
Sharing the same overall silhouette and proportions as its historical predecessor from 1969, the Chronomaster Original comes in a 38mm round steel case with a raised and domed crystal. Naturally, it features the mushroom-style chronograph pushers, the faceted lugs and the mix of radial brushed and polished surfaces that have already distinguished the first Chronomaster. However, the steel bracelet presents a new design replacing the open “ladder” style of 1969 with solid links.
The Chronomaster Original is equipped with the latest version of the El Primero caliber, dubbed the El Primero 3600, which boasts a high frequency of 5 Hz, enabling the 1/10th-of-a-second indication. This manufacture movement offers an extended power reserve of 60 hours. The sapphire display back provides an unobstructed view of the contemporary architecture with a sleeker and more open design, with the open-worked rotor adorned with the five-pointed Zenith star taking center stage.
The bracelet model retails for $10,000, while the one on strap is $9,500.
To learn more, visit Zenith, here.
