While Zenith has paid tribute to many of its emblematic historical references, including gold versions of the A386 in its Chronomaster Revival collection that debuted during the El Primero’s 50th anniversary, a steel re-edition as part of the permanent Zenith collection has long been something that Zenith collectors and chronograph aficionados have been eagerly awaiting. Over 50 years later, the El Primero remains the benchmark of precision among automatic chronograph movements, giving way to new versions and iterations in a constant evolution of technicity and performance. Few watches have been as influential and truly iconic as the Zenith A386, which made its debut in 1969 as one of the first steel watches to be equipped with the revolutionary El Primero calibre – the world’s first automatic high-frequency integrated chronograph movement. In steel with bracelet SGD 13,100, in steel with strap SGD 12,400 and in gold SGD 27,800. ![]() Retail prices of the new Chronomaster Original. We are looking forward to examining the Chronomaster Original, and will report back with our hands-on review and photographs. An interesting and remarkable engineering feat. Thus the caliber 3600’s 1/10th second hand is directly driven by each step of the escape wheel, 10 times every second. But Zenith shows its technical abilities in making chronograph by making this work using a low inertia silicon escape wheel with special teeth profile. This is usually not a good idea as the power available to each successive wheel decreases as one goes from the mainspring to the escape wheel. In the caliber 3600, the driving wheel is not the train’s fourth wheel, but rather the fifth wheel. This causes the chronograph seconds hand to start. This connection is activated by the starting the pusher, which uses a lever controlled by the column wheel to move a coupling wheel which is directly attached to the fourth wheel, and carry the same teeth arrangement to engage with the chronograph seconds wheel. Comparison of the caliber 400 vs the caliber 3600. In a regular chronograph, the chronograph seconds hand is connected to the main train’s fourth wheel (which directly drives the continuous seconds hand). The new movement has fewer parts (314 compared to 326), though it features additional features – hacking seconds, quick set date and a longer power reserve of 60 hours (up from 50)īut what is more interesting is that the caliber 3600 uses a somewhat unusual implementation of the chronograph. This interest grew when the movement specified for the Chronomaster Original is the new caliber 3600 instead of the charming but anachronistic caliber 400. The movement is also new, but not visible in this photograph. The bracelet is probably the biggest aesthetic update. The new Chronomaster Original looks almost like the original, and the Revival A386. The raised box like crystal is also a nod to the one used in the late 1960s. The same case dimensions are adopted, a rather svelte one for 2021, at only 38mm in diameter. ![]() So it is with interest we see now that the new Chronomaster Original follows the same aesthetics as the A386 and the OG El Primero of 1969. The Revival A386 shown here in yellow gold. Both the design aesthetics as well as the use of the original caliber 400 movement contributed as to its instant success, as did the extremely limited edition series of only 50 pieces in each case material and the 50 year warranty. The El Primero was a high beat automatic chronograph, and was introduced in 1969, and one of the claimants to the title of the first automatic chronograph, along the Seiko 6309, and the Breitling/Heuer/Buren Caliber 01. ![]() The Revival A386 had a design DNA which is very close to the original – a 38mm case, with a box shaped crystal, and the El Primero 400 movement – the very same as in the original. The series was offered in 3 solid gold options – white gold, yellow gold and pink gold, in a limited edition of 50 pieces each. The Revival A386 was a considerable success for Zenith when it was launched to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the El Primero. Press Release information with commentary in italics Commentary Zenith presents the long awaited successor to the A386 with the new Chronomaster Original in a 21st century rendition of the iconic El Primero.
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