It was enthusiastically agreed that the timing was perfect to complete the black chronograph project that had begun almost 50 years ago. For the team, surely this couldn't be a coincidence, but fate calling. There among the countless artifacts was a box and in it, the original prototype of the black chronograph that hadn't been seen by anyone since the early 1970's. As Zenith began celebrating the 50th anniversary of the seminal El Primero chronograph calibre, the team at the manufacture began to go through the secret walled-off attic where Charles Vermot had once hidden all the plans and parts necessary to produce the El Primero movement. Inspired by an obscure black Zenith chronograph from 1970, the Chronomaster Revival Shadow is crafted in a fully matte titanium case based on the iconic A386 and paired with a black and grey dial and doesn't feature a date display, a rarity for a watch with an El Primero movement.įast-forward to 2019. It’s not a limited edition, so should be around for a while.Automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph The ‘shadow’ comes with a black rubber and textile strap, adding to the stealth look, with some white stitching. The new Defy Revival Shadow will be available at Zenith boutiques, online, and authorized dealers with an MSRP of 7,400. 97.T384.4061/21.C822) is inspired by a Zenith prototype from the 1970s, which distinguished itself with a blackened. Its the same movement used in the steel versions of the Defy Revival. The other important difference to the original is that the Chronomaster Revival Shadow is no longer manual winding, thanks to the latest automatic El Primero movement from Zenith. The Defy Revival Shadow is powered by Zenith automatic Elite 670, which runs at 28,800 beats per hour and has a 50-hour power reserve. ![]() Despite the fact that this is very much a monochrome watch, it seems surprisingly legible from the photos, with white contrasting hands and indices (which glow green in the dark) against the matte black dial. This brings out the texture of the case perfectly, thanks to that alluring dark grey colour. Rather than black steel, the 37mm case (the same size as the A384 Revival, but smaller than the 41mm original) is in micro-blasted titanium. What Zenith has revealed now is far from an exact replica of that watch, but instead a stylish re-imagining to bring it firmly up to date with the modern world. Only a few of these prototypes were made and none were ever officially sold, but incredibly, one surfaced right here. This original ‘shadow’ watch prototype was a manual-winding chronograph in a blackened steel case – and you only have to imagine how avant-garde this looked half a century ago. What they found, among many other treasures, was a box containing the original prototype of a mysterious black chronograph that nobody had heard about since the 1970s. As the company was gearing up for the 50th birthday celebrations of the famous El Primero movement, the team began going through the famous boarded-up attic last year in the company’s headquarters, where Charles Vermot had once hidden all the blueprints and tooling for the El Primero – fearful that the era of mechanical watches was coming to an end (you can read more about this in our piece on the A384 Revival – the first watch to be fitted with the El Primero movement – here.) Presumed lost or missing, this prototype was recently discovered by the brand. This prototype was produced in very limited numbers, and was never officially produced or commercialised. The black dial foregoes the seconds track and the date window. Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow 97.T384.4061/21.C822 (NEW) Buy in monthly payments with Affirm on orders over 50. Here, the stealthy look is reproduced with an entirely matte finished titanium case. Brand: Zenith Model: Chronomaster Revival A386 Manufacture Edition Reference Number: Ref 03.Z386.400/60.C843 Diameter: 38mm Thickness: 12. Zenith Chronomaster Revival ‘Shadow Technical Specifications Reference: 97.T384.4061/21.C822 Key points: Original 1969 case with 37mm diameter, Automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph Movement: El Primero 4061 Automatic Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz) Power reserve: min. ![]() The Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow - Image Credit: Zenith The new Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow is a direct descendent of a prototype of a manual winding chronograph that was housed in a blackened steel case. The CHRONOMASTER Revival Shadow mimics the look of an obscure ZENITH chronograph prototype from the 1970s that featured a blackened case. Buy an authentic used Zenith Chronomaster El Primero 50th Anniversary A384 Revival Shadow Chronograph Special Edition 97.T384.4061 (10-10-ZEN-ZGY9AT).
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