The logo has also been updated to the more contemporary script Zenith uses today. And for instantaneous, precise reading of the 10 th of a second, the paddle-shaped seconds hand of the original A386 has been replaced with a straight, red-lacquered hand. Substituting the tachymeter scale on the outer circumference on the dial, a 1/10 th of a second chronograph scale takes its place, allowing for the measurement and reading of elapsed time in precise fractions of a second. The black inner scale surrounding the dial of the A386, once used to calculate time spent working using a 1/100 th of an hour time division system, finds a new purpose in the Chronomaster Original, with its 1/10 th of a second chronograph hand making a rotation around the dial in 10 seconds, totalling 100 measurable time units. All these intrinsic parts have been passed down to the Chronomaster Original, with a few subtle updates to match the boost in performance. Its unique aesthetic language includes the emblematic tri-colour chronograph registers in shades of grey and blue, the trapezoid date window at 04:30 and the red chronograph second hand. Undoubtedly, the most visually distinctive design element of the Zenith A386 is its dial. The steel bracelet has been reimagined, foregoing the open “ladder” design of the 1960s for solid links that are sumptuously chamfered and decorated in the same fashion as the case. The 38mm round bezel-less steel case with a raised and domed crystal, the pump-style chronograph pushers, the faceted lugs and the mix of radial brushed and polished surfaces throughout are indistinguishable between the past and present models. Upon a first glance, the Chronomaster Original, and the A386 it’s based on, appear nearly identical. But beyond a modern reinterpretation of this enduring staple among chronographs, Zenith has gone a step further with the Chronomaster Original, which masterfully retains the singular and enduringly relevant design of the A386 while packing the performance of the 21 st century version of the El Primero boasting 1/10 th of a second precision and time measurement. While Zenith has paid tribute to many of its emblematic historical references, including gold versions of the A386 in its Chronomaster Revival collection that debuted during the El Primero’s 50 th anniversary, a steel re-edition as part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. Zenith Chronomaster Original – Original by name, original by substance.
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