As one of the first watches to house Zenith’s revolutionary El Primero automatic chronograph movement in 1969, the handsome A386 remains one of the Swiss watchmaker’s most iconic references. Now, more than 50 years later, Zenith is bringing back the A386 as a modern piece of its permanent collection with the Chronomaster Original.
The Zenith Chronomaster Original has the same 38mm case size, case design, and case finishing of the 1969 original. It also has largely the same dial design, including the trademark tri-color subregisters. But since this is a luxury watch debuting in 2021 and not 1969, there are a number of contemporary updates. The domed crystal is now in sapphire, and there’s now an exhibition caseback, also in sapphire. Visible through that caseback is the latest incarnation of Zenith’s high-beat El Primero automatic chronograph movement, which is now capable of timing down to 1/10th of a second. The available stainless steel bracelet has also been upgraded to a modern three-link design. In addition to the classic stainless steel tri-color model, there’s a Chronomaster Original in a rose gold case with tri-color dial and a stainless steel model with a new (and rather attractive) reverse panda dial. All references are available now from Zenith and are priced from $8,400.
