Ever wondered what an El Primero inspired by the great outdoors would look like? Well, now we can with Zenith’s latest release. Since Zenith’s El Primero inception in 1969, the movement has been used in various collections from the brand. One notable collection is of course the Chronomaster line. Recently Zenith has been producing revival models of past Chornomaster models, taking design cue’s from the original pieces and updating them with modern materials and more refined El Primero movements.
Now, Zenith has taken the Chronomaster and re-imagined what it would be like if it was donned in a safari outfit. This latest creation is entirely different from what the Zenith Manufacture has produced since El Primero’s inception over 50 years ago. The Zenith Chronomaster Revival Safari is a lush interpretation of a signature vintage chronograph icon.
Design:
The geometric proportions and overall design cues are identical to the original A384 model on which the Chronomaster Revivals are based, however, Zenith has given the Revival Safari a fresh take.
The look and feel of the case on the Chronomaster Revival Safari couldn’t be any more different from the traditional finished stainless steel case on the original models. This is because Zenith has now used titanium for the case, which makes it not only lighter than steel but also stronger. The dark grey appearance is constructed by microblasting the entire titanium case, which brings out a darker appearance as the case now absorbs the light rather than reflecting it.
This darker titanium case acts as a great backdrop to the safari-themed dial. The dial on the Chronomaster Revival is a deep olive matte green finish, which is nicely contrasted by black registers and tachymeter scale. This contrast is further accentuated by the use of a khaki green “Cordura effect” strap, which also balances out the green and darker tones on the watch quite well. The hour indices and hands stand out on the dial thanks to Zeniths vintage-inspired warm beige-coloured Superluminova. There is also a date window between 4 and 5 o’clock, which is almost camouflaged on the dial as it blends in with the white minute track.
Movement:
The movement used on the Chornomaster Revival Safari is the El Primero 400 automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre. Ever since its production in 1969, the movement has had many updates throughout the years. The El Primero 400 automatic movement is the closest iteration to the original version. The El Primero 400 produces a frequency of 36, 000 Vph and a power reserve of approximately 50 hours. This movement is visible through the open case back on the Chornomaster Revival Safari.
Available from Zenith boutiques and e-commerce from June 2021, the Zenith Chornomaster Revival Safari is certainly a refreshing take on not only the Chornomaster line but also the El Primero models since its creation.
