One of the first round-cased steel El Primero reference timepieces from 1969, the Chronomaster Original gets a black tri-colour dial for the first time in the collection’s history.
The Chronomaster original collection is one of Zenith’s iconic lines, since the A386’s first creation back in 1969. The Chronomaster Original’s distinctive look is the tri-counter layout with overlapping counters, and with each tri-counter having the iconic silver, grey and blue finish.
What sets the Chronomaster Original apart from the Sport model aesthetic wise is the noticeable bezel, or lack there of. The Chronomaster Original comes with the 1/10th of a second scale in a black ring on the outer edge of the dial, wheres the Sport model has this on the bezel itself. While both models carry identical features, the Chronomaster Original is presented to be the more elegant out of the two.
This will be the first time since the creation of the Chronomaster Original (A386) that the creamy white colour will not be used for the dial. With the Chronomaster Sport offered with both black and white dial variants, this transition to black dial for the Original was certainly forthcoming. What the black dial does for the Chronomaster Original is make it much more easily noticeable.
The tri-counters with the silver, grey and blue finish stand out much more compared to the white background. Combine that with the outer rings for the chronograph scales, and the watch’s aesthetic are balanced nicely. It should also be noted that the 1/10th of second scale on this new black dial variant is black too, while the white dial has a white scale.
Besides the dial colour variation, everything else about this new Chronomaster Original remains the same as the model that was released back in 2021. The timepiece comes in the same round 38mm steel case design that was created for the original 1969 A386 model. The dial features the date window at 4.30 position, a red central chronograph seconds hand, and the 1/10th of second scale and 10 second scale rings on the outer part of the dial. The crystal is also the same raised and domed design.
The movement inside the Chronomaster Original is Zenith’s heart and soul, the El Primero Calibre. 50 years ago, the El Primero movement changed chronograph movements forever. Since then, Zenith has been continously pushing the boundaries of high-frequency movements with the innovation and further development of the El Primero movement. The Chronomaster Original comes equipped with the latest El Primero calibre movement, the El Primero 3600. This movement comes with a high frequency of 5Hz (36, 000 VpH). The movement also has a pretty decent power reserve of 60 hours. The open case back reveals the El Primero 3600 calibre movement, showing it’s blue column wheel and open rotor marked with the five-pointed star Zenith.
For the bracelet options, this latest Chronomaster Original is available in either a steel bracelet, or a black calfskin leather strap. The steel bracelet has differed in design from the vintage style, now offered in a 3-link bracelet rather than the Gay Frères ladder bracelet. With the release of this new black dial variant, the spotlight will once again shine on the Chronomaster Original collection, with avid fans of black dials now being presented with a historic timepiece.
Reference: 03.3200.3600/22.M3200; 03.3200.3600/22.C908
Specification:
- Case: 38mm (47mm lug-to-lug)
- Thickness: 13mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Dial: Matte black, with tri-counter layout of blue, grey and silver.
- Crystal: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Water resistance: 50m / 5bar
- Movement: In-house Calibre El Primero 3600
- Power reserve: 60 Hours
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet or calfskin leather strap
