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Introducing the Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival Ref. A3818 “Cover Girl”
Among emblematic sports chronographs that have seen the light of day since the birth of the watch industry, there is only one timepiece bestowed with a sobriquet that inflames the desire of men to such an extreme — that is, of course, Zenith’s legendary El Primero Ref. A3818, otherwise known as the “Cover Girl”, thanks to its appearance on the front of Manfred Rössler’s book Zenith: Swiss Watch Manufacture Since 1865.
For those of you who have had the chance to set eyes on the “Cover Girl”, the watch can only be described as jaw-droppingly stunning. It uses the same angular, tonneau-shaped case as the Zenith Ref. A384, but features one of the most unique dials in modern watchmaking, with striations that catch the light quite magnificently.
It is important to note that there are precisely 300 of these ultra-thin markers on the dial. Counting the space in between the markers themselves, it then allows you to read the chronograph seconds to an accuracy of 1/10th of a second, which the legendary high-frequency 5Hz (36,000vph) El Primero movement is capable of. — WK
A Little History
It is always good to remember that the El Primero movement almost disappeared at the end of the 1970s when management at Zenith Radio Corporation, the American parent company of the brand at the time, lost faith in mechanical watches and decided to limit its production to quartz timepieces only. This led to the order to destroy or sell the presses and tools associated with building mechanical movements.
One watchmaker, Charles Vermot, a specialist in chronograph movement construction who had followed the construction of the El Primero calibre since its first sketches, rebelled against his management’s orders and took it upon himself to secretly stash the tools, machinery, blueprints and components inside the manufacture’s attic where they sat hidden away until the Zenith watch company changed ownership and decided to embark on a journey to relaunch the production of the famous El Primero movement.
Beginning with the reintroduction of the hallowed Ref. A384, the watch that started it all back in 1969, this was followed by a salvo of contemporary watchmaking’s most enthralling special editions, including a timepiece dubbed “The Edge of Space” made in collaboration with George Bamford and Mr. Porter, a limited series of Ref. A386 watches in precious metals, as well as an amazing pièce unique Ref. A386 in platinum with a lapis lazuli dial created in collaboration with Bacs & Russo, which raised CHF200,000 for charity.
The Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival Ref. A3818 “Cover Girl”
Many examples have polished cases which erase the sharp angular profile of the case. Others will have the metallic blue paint on the dial peeling off. It can be an attractive look, but usually you can bet that it isn’t.
Finding one with an original Gay Frères ladder bracelet is also rare in itself, since this was an expensive add-on back in the day. The interest in Zenith Ref. A3818s is currently at an all-time high with prices often hanging around the USD20,000 mark, either at auctions or when changing hands between collectors, making the watch a truly prized and elusive treasure.
We would like to thank the brand’s dynamic CEO Julien Tornare and its incredible product head Romain Marietta for this incredibly meaningful partnership. We would also like to thank Zenith for intentionally keeping the price of this timepiece accessible, even with the addition of the famous ladder bracelet, as a thank you to our readers for their loyalty and passion. — KC
Movement
Self-winding El Primero calibre 400; hours, minutes and small seconds; central chronograph seconds; totalisers; date; tachymeter; 50-hour power reserve
Case
37mm; stainless steel case; sapphire crystal caseback; galvanic blue dial with SuperLuminova-coated indices, hands and dial details; water resistant to 50m
Strap
Stainless-steel “Ladder” bracelet; additional beige calf leather strap and blue calf leather racing strap provided
Limited edition of 100 pieces, priced at USD 8,100[/td_block_text_with_title]