Swiss luxury watch brand ZENITH presents the new Black Tricolour dial version of its best-selling Chronomaster Original automatic chronograph.
ZENITH Chronomaster Original is the modern successor to the ZENITH A386, one of the first round-cased steel El Primero reference from 1969. This popular model now reinterprets the iconic tricolour dial in black – a first for the historical 1969 case. It houses the latest generation of the El Primero high-frequency automatic calibre with a 1/10th of a second chronograph function.
In the new Chronomaster Original Tricolour version, one of the most distinctively El Primero design elements is inverted: the traditionally creamy-white dial bearing three counters in shades of grey and blue is rendered black for a more dramatic look.
It marks the first time that a black tricolour dial appears in the 38mm steel case originally designed for the A386 in 1969. Much like the Chronomaster Sport line, which features both white and black tricolour dials, the Chronomaster Original line is now completed with a historical white tricolour dial and a bolder, more modern black tricolour dial.
By making the base black, the other elements also had to be inverted form white to black and vice-versa, including the date wheel in the trapezoid window at 04:30, as well as the 1/10th of a second and 10-second chronograph scales.
Without disrupting the unique aesthetic of the A386 and its multiple scales, the Chronomaster Original perfectly integrates a 1/10th of a second chronograph into the design.
The central red chronograph second hand completes one rotation of the dial in 10 seconds. The chronograph hand steadily advances every 1/10th of a second, allowing for intuitive fractional time measurement.
Sharing the same overall silhouette and proportions as its historical predecessor from 1969, the Chronomaster Original is crafted in a 38mm round bezel-less steel case with a raised and domed crystal. The pump-style chronograph pushers, the faceted lugs and the mix of radial brushed and polished surfaces throughout are indistinguishable between the past and present models.
The steel bracelet has also been redesigned, replacing the open “ladder” design of 1969 with solid links.
The Chronomaster Original is equipped with the latest version of the El Primero calibre, dubbed the El Primero 3600. With its high frequency of 5 Hz (36’000 VpH), the movement offers a true 1/10th of second indication. Its autonomy has also been rendered more efficient, with an extended power reserve of 60 hours.
The sapphire display back provides an unobstructed view of the movement’s contemporary, architecture features a sleeker and more open design, revealing a blue column wheel and open rotor marked with the five-pointed star Zenith.
The Chronomaster Original with black tricolour dial joins the line as a permanent part of the collection, available at ZENITH boutiques and authorized retailers around the world.
Technical details
Model: ZENITH Chronomaster Original with Black Tricolour Dial
Movement
Calibre El Primero 3600
Automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph movement able to measure and display 1/10th of a second
Frequency: 36’000 VpH – 5Hz
Power reserve: 60 hours
Stop-second mechanism
Finishes: New star-shaped oscillating weight with satined finishings
Functions
Hours and minutes in the centre
Small seconds at 9 o’clock
Date indication at 4:30
1/10th of a second Chronograph: Central chronograph hand that makes one turn in 10 seconds, 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock, 60-second counter at 3 o’clock.
Case
Material: Stainless steel
Diameter: 38mm
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
Case-back: Transparent sapphire crystal
Water resistance: 5 ATM
Dial
Black matte with three different-coloured counters
Hour markers: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1
Hands: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1
Bracelet/strap
Reference 03.3200.3600/22.M3200: Metal bracelet with folding clasp.
Reference 03.3200.3600/22.C908: Calfskin leather with folding clasp
Suggested retail price
9,900 CHF with stainless steel bracelet
9,400 CHF with leather strap
