![]() Microbeads blasted against the lightweight titanium bring out the dark gray hue of the case material resulting in a unique matte surface. However, instead of a stainless steel case with a black coating - like the abovementioned prototype - Zenith chose to go with a micro blasted titanium. In speaking with Zenith CEO, Julien Tornare (wristshot picture), last month at the launch of the Defy 21 Land Rover Edition - which took place at Watches of Switzerland SoHo just before everything in Manhattan and most of the world came to a halt - he explained to Professional Watches that the “Shadow” is a reimagination rather than a reproduction of the exact historical timepiece that he and his team discovered in the attic in 2019.Įnter the Chronomaster Revival “Shadow” which is presented in a case that’s a faithful reproduction of the circa 1969 A384 timepiece that housed the first El Primero movement and that measures 37 mm in diameter. Zenith Chronomaster Shadow original prototype circa 1970 – Photo by Zenith. It was agreed that the timing was perfect to complete the black chronograph project that had begun almost 50 years ago - and the “Shadow” was born. According to Zenith, longtime employees had heard of and even seen the rare prototype, despite few records existing about the so-called “mystery” watch.įast forward to last year when Zenith began celebrating the 50th anniversary of the famous 5Hz El Primero chronograph, and as the story goes, the team at the manufacture in Le Locle, Switzerland went into a secret walled-off attic where the company’s founder Charles Vermot had once hidden all the plans and parts necessary to produce the El Primero movement.Īmong countless artifacts was a box containing the original prototype of the black chronograph that reportedly had not been seen by anyone since the early 1970s. ![]() ![]() Only a limited number were ever made and the timepiece was never brought to market. Shortly after Zenith debuted the automatic El Primero movement in 1969, the company produced a prototype manual-winding chronograph - in a blackened steel case. Because of the current situation, this exclusive timepiece will be available to buy online until the manufacture reopens.Inspired by a black chronograph prototype from 1970, the Chronomaster Revival Shadow is presented in an A384 case, Zenith’s first watch to house the El Primero. This watch was planned to only be available to purchase when you were visiting the Zenith manufacture. Beating inside is the same movement it would have had if it had been produced in 1969, the El Primero high-frequency automatic chronograph with column wheel. The dial dimensions are identical to the original A386 El Primero, as is the 38mm stainless steel case with pump-style pushers. To bring this prototype to life, it was only appropriate that Zenith produces it as a Revival piece, using the original blueprints for the A386 from 1969. The Chronomaster Revival A386 Manufacture Edition Zenith took the decision to create a new special edition – the Chronomaster Revival A386 Manufacture Edition. The sub-dials did not feature the 3 El Primero colors we all know but 3 different shades of blue. In November 2018, Zenith made a magnificent find in the now-famous attic, a small box containing slightly rusty and very dusty El Primero dials that had never been seen before. Keeping his plans secret, Vermot hid all the El Primero’s plans and components in a walled-off section in the attic of the Zenith Manufacture. Charles Vermot, one of the original watchmakers who worked on the El Primero, took it upon himself to save the El Primero in the hope that one day, Zenith would bring it back. ![]() The story starts in 1975 when Zenith management decides to stop production of the El Primero, as the quartz movement was threatening mechanical watchmaking. ![]()
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