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An Unexpected Discovery

Continuing the 50th Anniversary celebration of the El Primero, Zenith introduces a never-before-seen prototype dial for the special Chronomaster Revival Manufacture Edition

Last year was a very important year for Zenith. It was the 50th Annivesary of the brand's iconic and the world's first automatic high-frequency chronograph movement – the El Primero. Continuing with its celebration Zenith launches the 2020 Chronomaster Revival Manufacture Edition featuring a reproduction of a previously unknown prototype dial of its most iconic chronograph.

Discovered in the grenier or attic of the Zenith Manufacture, buried within countless artefacts was a small box that revealed a number of dials remarkably preserved through the decades. Among the signature El Primero tri-colour dials of the A386 was another version of the tri-colour dial using three different shades of blue. With no records exiting of the dials, it has been presumed that they belonged to the original prototype dials for the A386 (considering they were found with the original prototypes of the A386). Despite the ambiguity surrounding these unexpected discoveries, it was but natural for the watchmakers at Zenith to introduce it to the world.

Naturally produced as a Revival piece, the Zenith Chronomaster Revival “Manufacture Edition” is crafted in a 38mm stainless steel case and is set up with pump-style ushers that is an exact reproduction of the A386 from 1969. What makes this watch even special is that the final version of the “Revival” case of the A386 has been used for the Chronomaster Revival “Manufacture Edition”. As discussed earlier, the white-lacquered dial with three shades of blue counters is the never-before-seen prototype dial found at the grenier or attic of the Zenith Manufacture. Powering this beautiful timepiece is the El Primero 400 Automatic with a power reserve of 50 hours.

Fitted with a blue alligator leather strap and wrapped in a special book like package that bears the blueprint of the Zenith Manufacture, the 2020 Zenith Chronomaster Revival “Manufacture Edition”was initially supposed to (as a Manufacture piece) intended to be an exclusive piece for visitors of the Zenith Manufacture. However, due to the current crisis, Zenith is making the Manufacture Edition available on e-commerce allowing customers to get their hands on this unique piece until the Manufacture is allowed to reopen to the public.

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