In 2019, Zenith began celebrating the 50th anniversary of the seminal El Primero chronograph calibre, the team at the manufacture began to go through the secret walled-off attic where Charles Vermot had once hidden all the plans and parts necessary to produce the El Primero movement. There among the countless artifacts was a box and in it, the original prototype of the black chronograph that hadn’t been seen by anyone since the early 1970’s.

With the Chronomaster Revival “Shadow” timepiece, Zenith reimagines what could have been, rather than directly reproducing a historical Zenith timepiece.

Inspired heavily by that obscure black chronograph prototype from 1970, the Shadow is housed in a 37mm case, a faithful reproduction of the very first watch fitted with the El Primero, the A384. Zenith has opted for microblasted Titanium, bringing out the dark grey nuances of the lightweight yet highly durable metal with its completely matte finish.

The black dial foregoes the seconds track and the date window. Paired with a black cordura effect rubber strap