ZENITH: TRICOLOUR TO THE CORE
The Chronomaster Original is the current successor to the ZENITH A386, which was one of the original round-cased steel El Primero references from 1969. It now reinterprets the famous tricolour dial in black, which is a first for the historical 1969 case.
The Chronomaster Original with black tricolour dial stands out as a thoroughly contemporary take on one of the most iconic El Primero references. It is equipped with the most recent generation of the El Primero high-frequency automatic chronograph calibre, which features a 1/10th of a second chronograph function.
One of the design aspects that is most uniquely El Primero has been flipped in the newest edition of the Chronomaster Original series. The normally creamy-white dial that bears three counters in hues of grey and blue has been made black for a more dramatic impact. It is the first time that a black tricolour dial has been used in the 38 mm steel casing that was first developed for the A386 in 1969.
A historical white tricolour dial and a daring, more contemporary black tricolour display have been added to the Chronomaster Original line of watches. This is quite similar to the Chronomaster Sport line, which offers both a black and a white version of its tricolour face. The other parts, such as the date wheel in the trapezium 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 since the base was changed to black. This was necessary because making the base black inverted the colours of the other elements.
The Chronomaster Original manages to flawlessly include a 1/10th of a second chronograph into the design without compromising the one-of-a-kind appearance of the A386 or the numerous scales it features. The Chronomaster Original is a timepiece that is truly unlike any other chronograph on the market since it has a central red chronograph second hand that completes one circle of the dial in just 10 seconds. The chronograph hand advances at a consistent rate of once every tenth of a second, which enables a straightforward determination of fractional time.
The Chronomaster Original is made in a steel casing that is 38 millimetres in diameter and without a bezel. The crystal on the front of the watch is elevated and dome-shaped. The general profile and dimensions of the watch are the same as those of its historical predecessor from 1969. The chronograph pushers, which are shaped like pumps, the faceted lugs, and the combination of radial brushing and polishing on surfaces throughout are the only things that differentiate the older versions from the newer ones. The open “ladder” style of the steel bracelet that was introduced in 1969 has been replaced by a version that features solid links.
Even after more than 50 years have passed since ZENITH altered the course of mechanical chronographs for good, the El Primero calibre is still being developed and refined by the company into new variants that test the boundaries of what is possible in terms of performance. This automated chronograph movement continues to set the standard for accuracy in the industry. The most recent iteration of the El Primero calibre, which has been given the name El Primero 3600, can be found within the Chronomaster Original.
The movement has a high frequency of 5 Hz, which is equivalent to 36’000 VpH, and it provides an accurate indication of 1/10th of a second. Its autonomy has also been made more effective, and it now has a power reserve that is capable of lasting for sixty hours. The modern movement’s architecture boasts a leaner and more open form, showing a blue column wheel and open rotor marked with the five-pointed star Zenith. The sapphire display back offers an unobstructed view of the movement’s architecture, so the viewer may examine it in its entirety.
