Few brands have so sparked interest in their historically informed family of chronographs in recent years so much as Zenith with their Chronomaster collection. With modern executions like the smoky A385 Revival, green hued “Safari,” all black “Shadow—” not to mention the 2021-introduced Chronomaster Sport and Chronomaster Original— the contemporary collection has consistently and substantively drawn on the past for a refreshing stream of chronograph cool.
This month, that Zenith-powered interest in its chronographs continues, with the brand introducing its latest limited-edition novelty: the Chronomaster Revival A384 Lupin the Third, Final Edition. The new watch is the third and final edition to its Lupin the Third series, a partnership collaboration stemming to 2019 between the Swiss watchmaker and Japanese manga and anime series, Lupin the Third.
In the first edition of the Lupin the Third watch series, the Chronomaster Revival A384 base design featured first a black, grey, and gilt dial featured in the television show (above), while second edition featured the same base design, but then with a different “panda” dial variant featured in another episode (below). The final edition, now unveiled, takes these two dials and brings them together with a 50/50 split, presenting a highly unusual visual experience that is, as of writing, completely novel in the current market.
The new Zenith continues a small but seemingly growing trend seen in the watch world, where classic sillehoutes are used as base designs for creative, cartoon-influenced styles. Most recently we saw this trend in G-Shock’s Full Metal GMW-B5000TVA-1 aka the “Titanium Virtual Armor” (below), and before then in TAG Heuer’s Connected x Super Mario, these not to mention the various Snoopy-emblazoned watches from Omega and Timex.
As for specs, the Lupin the Third, Final Edition features a familiar and namesake Chronomaster Revival A384 base design, with its 1969-fashioned, barrel-shaped case featuring sharp angles, a 37-mm diameter, and the use of both radial brushing and high-grade polishing. On the dial, the split look keeps the wearer engaged, with its vintage-influenced configuration stylized with the unique, split colorway and offering an almost “ying-yang” look.
The black and white dial is created via a “delicate and long process,” with a the dial’s two side manufactured successively. First, the silvery-white side is completed, with the black chronograph counters then milled while the rest of the dial is protected via a transparent lacquer. Then, the second half is taken on and painted black, with the white side provided its own protective layer until completion. At last, the remaining details and accents are added, including the use of grey on the dial’s black side, as well as the various appliqués, including the gilt-colored and lume filled indices. The challenge was enhanced via the total editions planned for production, with perfection in symmetrical, non-bleeding production described as “nearly impossible,” and ultrimately yielding a “uniquely intriguing result,” that was “well worth the effort.”
The 50-meter water resistant case contains Zenith’s El Primero 400 Automatic movement, a high-beat caliber installed frequently by the brand in watches from its Revival series, including the original, 2019-introduced El Primero A384 Revival and the One-of-a-Kind El Primero A386, among many others. The automatic chronograph movement beats at a frequency of 36,000 vph, holds a power reserve of 50 hours, and includes a column wheel-controlled chronograph function that can measure elapsed times to the 1/10th second.
The new and final edition of the Zenith Chronomaster Revival A384 Lupin the Third will be limited to 250 total examples, with pricing marked at $10,000. The watch is expected to be available later this year via Zenith boutiques and authorized retailers, with a pre-order campaign live now directly through the brand.
To learn more and inquire for purchase, visit Zenith, here.