Zenith's Chronomaster Original inherits the legacy of the timeless masterpiece A386

In the summer of 2021, Swiss watchmaker Zenith unveiled a new model, a modern reinterpretation of the classic A386. The Chronomaster Original is a 38mm stainless steel chronograph with an automatic El Primero caliber equipped with a column wheel that can measure and display time to within a tenth of a second, and an improved power reserve of approximately 60 hours.

　One of the most iconic timepieces that has influenced the watch industry, the Zenith A386, released in 1969, was one of the first stainless steel watches to feature the El Primero caliber, the world's first high-frequency integrated automatic chronograph movement.

　While Zenith has paid homage to many iconic historic models, such as the addition of a gold version of the A386 to the Chronomaster Revival collection to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the El Primero, a stainless steel reissue as part of Zenith's permanent collection has been eagerly awaited by Zenith collectors and chronograph enthusiasts.

　In 2021, Zenith has not only reinterpreted this timeless chronograph classic in a modern way, but also evolved it into an even more advanced new model. The 38mm stainless steel Chronomaster Original, water-resistant to 5 bar, inherits the distinctive and timeless design of the A386 while offering 1/10th-second accuracy and time measurement capabilities worthy of a 21st-century El Primero.

　At first glance, the Chronomaster Original and its predecessor, the A386, appear nearly identical: with their round, bezel-less 38mm stainless steel cases, raised, domed sapphire crystals, pump-style chronograph pushers, faceted lugs, and radially varying brushed and polished surfaces, it's difficult to tell the difference between the current model and the past.

　The most distinctive feature of the A386's design is undoubtedly its dial, which is finished with a unique design featuring a tricolor chronograph register in gray and blue tones, a trapezoidal date window at 4:30, and a red chronograph second hand.

　All of this has been carried over to the Chronomaster Original with modern updates. For example, the black inner scale surrounding the A386's dial was previously used to calculate working times using a 1/100th time division system. However, in the Chronomaster Original, it has been given a new purpose: a 1/10th-second chronograph hand moves around the dial in 10 seconds, providing a total of 100 measurable time units. The tachymeter scale around the outer edge of the dial has been replaced with a 1/10th-second chronograph scale, allowing for accurate measurement and reading of elapsed time down to the second. Additionally, the paddle-shaped seconds hand used on the original A386 has been replaced with a straight hand with a red lacquer finish, allowing for instantaneous and precise reading of 1/10th-second intervals. The logo has also been updated to the modern typeface used by Zenith today.

　The Chronomaster Original is equipped with the latest version of the El Primero caliber, the El Primero 3600. Beating at a frequency of 5 Hz (36,000 vph), this movement is capable of measuring time to within 1/10 of a second with exceptional precision.

　The watch now boasts an improved power reserve of approximately 60 hours, and the sapphire crystal case back offers a clear view of the new design, including the blue column wheel and open rotor adorned with the Zenith star.

　The Chronomaster Original not only continues the legacy of the A386, but also sets new standards of exemplary performance through Zenith's relentless pursuit of precision.