This Classic Retro Chronograph Has Never Looked Better

Swiss watchmaker Zenith is one of the most accomplished and respected brands in the industry, best known for the El Primero family of high-beat movements. But legend has it that a trip to America in the mid-1800s inspired founder Georges Favre-Jacot to revolutionize Swiss watch manufacturing.

With the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence just around the corner, Zenith celebrates its deep-rooted connection to the United States with a limited-edition dial for the fan-favorite Chronomaster Revival.

Zenith

As Zenith recounts, Favre-Jacot modeled the factory he opened in 1865 after the early American industrial system, producing every component and executing the entire assembly under one roof. This was a stark departure from Switzerland’s traditional établissage system, which compartmentalized the process into specialized workshops.

Following the same innovative spirit that spawned the brand, Zenith introduced one of the world’s first automatic chronograph movements in 1969. The angular tonneau case of the reference A384 was designed to house this revolutionary movement and became a cult classic.

In 2019, Zenith reproduced the iconic design with the Chronomaster Revival, and a year later, the watch received a red, white and blue makeover called the Liberty, offered exclusively in the American market.

Zenith

Zenith’s patriotic sequel inverts the Liberty’s dial colors, placing blue subdials on a white background, encircled by a blue tachymeter track. The most notable feature, the red-and-white striped chronograph seconds hand, is unchanged.

But with such a momentous occasion at hand, Zenith added in a few more twists for this limited edition release.

“Old Glory”

Of course, the striped chronograph seconds hand features 13 segments, matching the 13 stripes on “Old Glory.” Another nod to America’s resignation from the British Empire pops up once a month, with the 4 on the otherwise blue date track colored red to hint at the 4th of July.

Both of those details are carried over from the first Chronomaster Revival Liberty, but Zenith added another, more subtle East Egg to this follow-up. The 250 marker on the white tachymeter track is now red in acknowledgment of two-and-a-half centuries of American independence.

The Liberty II comes with the same blue Cordura and rubber pin buckle strap, accented with red stitching, as its predecessor. This time around, however, Zenith also includes its signature stainless steel ladder bracelet.

I’m obsessed with the Chronomaster Revival, but it feels incomplete without the ladder bracelet, so this is a crucial addition.

“The First”

This patriotic Chronomaster Revival is powered by the standard El Primero 400 automatic movement. It’s a 5Hz high-beat chronograph with a 50-hour power reserve.

Zenith

Unlike the Chronomaster Sport, with its 1/10-second counter, the El Primero 400 presents a more traditional chronograph register. There is a small seconds at 9:00, a 30-minute counter at 3:00 and a 12-hour counter at 6:00.

Getting carbonated

Last but not least, there is a second version of the Liberty II. It presents the same dial in a marbled black forged carbon case with a matching crown and pushers.

Zenith

The forged carbon version only comes with the blue Cordura and rubber pin buckle strap, and it is an extremely limited production of just 25 pieces.

Availability and pricing

You don’t have to be American to appreciate this stunning chronograph. Blue-on-white panda dials are always a hit, and the striped seconds hand is a sporty touch you don’t often see in modern watchmaking.

Striped seconds hands were originally designed for enhanced legibility, and it admittedly has the opposite effect paired with the white dial, but it still adds to the retro appeal.

The Zenith Chronomaster Revival Liberty II is available now exclusively in the United States. The steel version costs $10,600 and is limited to 250 pieces, while the forged carbon version costs $13,400 and is limited to 25 pieces.

Zenith

Zenith Chronomaster Revival Liberty II

Specs

Case Size	37
Movement	Zenith El Primero 400 automatic chronograph
Water Resistance	50m

• $10,600 at Zenith (Steel)
• $13,400 at Zenith (Black Carbon)

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