ZENITH

Zenith Chronomaster Original in rose gold Zenith Chronomaster Original in steel

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AFTER MORE THAN 50 YEARS, ZENITH PRESENTS THE LONGAWAITED SUCCESSOR TO THE A386, THE CHRONOMASTER ORIGINAL

With the rise in popularity of vintage things, it’s no wonder that many watchmakers look back to their past to take inspiration from previous models. One such manufacture is Zenith. Taking design cues from the iconic Zenith A386, which was unveiled more than 50 years ago in 1969, the brand now presents the Chronomaster Original. This new offering is a showcase of the very best elements of the heritage piece that serves as its inspiration. Looking nearly identical to the original, the Chronomaster Original bears a similar 38 mm round bezel-less steel case with a raised and domed crystal, pump-style chronograph pushers, faceted lugs and radial brushed and polished surfaces. However, the modern version also has some unique attri-

Zenith Chronomaster Original with black dial By Maria Zarah Gregorio Viado

Sheila Sim wearing the latest Chronomaster Original with Diamonds

butes. The new iteration has a solid link steel bracelet – chamfered and decorated in the same fashion as the case.

Upholding the watch dial design from the A386, including the emblematic tri-colour chronograph registers in grey and blue, the trapezoid date window at 04:30 and the red chronograph second hand, the Chronomaster Original veers slightly from the historic timepiece to accommodate changes that match the enhanced power it possesses. The black inner scale, formerly used to calculate time spent working using a 1/100th of an hour time division system, now finds a new purpose in the Chronomaster Original, with its 1/10th of a second chronograph hand making a rotation around the dial in 10 seconds, totalling 100 measurable time units. A 1/10th of a second chronograph scale replaces the tachymeter scale formerly found on the outer circumference of the dial and enables the measurement and reading of elapsed time in precise fractions of a second. And for instantaneous, precise reading of the 10th of a second, a straight, red-lacquered hand is used instead of the paddle-shaped seconds hand of the original A386. In a bid for modernity, the Zenith logo has also been updated to display the more contemporary script the brand uses today.

Though these design elements truly give the Chronomaster Original its unique look and appeal, it is what drives the watch that gives it its identity. The novel offering from Zenith is powered by the latest version of the El Primero calibre, the El Primero 3600. Following 50 years of improvement, the calibre has a high frequency of 5 Hz (36’000 VpH) and is able to precisely offer a true 1/10th of second indication. It is also equipped with an extended power reserve of 60 hours. With a more open design, revealing a blue column wheel and open rotor marked with the five-pointed Zenith star, this most updated El Primero is sleeker than ever.

In addition to the signature steel option with the iconic tri-colour motif, the Chronomaster Original is also available in a steel case with a “reverse panda” black dial with silver

Zenith Chronomaster Original with taupe motif

THOUGH THESE DESIGN ELEMENTS TRULY GIVE THE CHRONOMASTER ORIGINAL ITS UNIQUE LOOK AND APPEAL, IT IS WHAT DRIVES THE WATCH THAT GIVES IT ITS IDENTITY

chronograph registers, and an 18-carat rose gold version with the tri-colour dial. The line has also recently been enriched by the addition of two diamond versions. Launched at the first “MEET THE DREAMHERS” event in Madrid, Spain in October, the watches are adorned with diamond-set lugs and diamond hour markers – one model comes with a white mother-of-pearl dial with tri-colour registers in three different colours of pearl, while another comes with a satin-white dial and varying tones of taupe and brown for the subdials. A definite treat for the ladies, the Chronomaster Original with diamonds is also driven by the El Primero 3600.

The Zenith Chronomaster Original can accompany you from day to night