
The Zenith Chronomaster Original gets a stunning blue upgrade
Zenith has taken one of its most iconic watches and given it a stunning new twist. The Chronomaster Original – the spiritual descendant of the 1969 A386 and one of the first watches to house the legendary El Primero calibre – is now available with a stunning midnight blue dial.
It's the first time Zenith has paired the Chronomaster Original with a full blue dial, and it's a beauty. The brand's signature tricolour subdials (grey, dark grey, and light blue) are still present and correct, but now they sit on a rich blue background that adds a classic edge to this classically styled chronograph.
The silver 1/10th of a second track circling the dial provides a crisp contrast, improving legibility while adding to the drama.
The 38mm stainless steel case stays true to the 1969 blueprint. It's round and bezel-less, with pump-style pushers, faceted lugs, and a mix of polished and brushed finishes.
It's compact, wearable and distinctly vintage in feel, though the performance under the hood is anything but…
Powering the watch is the El Primero 3600, Zenith's updated high-frequency chronograph movement. It beats at 5Hz and tracks time down to 1/10th of a second via a central seconds hand that whips around the dial once every ten seconds.
It's precise, fast, and visible through a sapphire case back that also reveals a column wheel and open-worked rotor.
Buyers get a choice of a classic three-link steel bracelet or a blue calfskin strap with matching stitching – both fitted with folding clasps.
Whether you go for steel or leather, this blue-dial Chronomaster feels like a fresh yet faithful tribute to a genuine horological icon. It's available now from Zenith boutiques and the brand's online store, priced at $10,300 / £9300.
Liked this? Biver hides a serious watchmaking flex in its latest release

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Stuff.tv
3 days ago
- Stuff.tv
The Zenith Chronomaster Original gets a stunning blue upgrade
Zenith has taken one of its most iconic watches and given it a stunning new twist. The Chronomaster Original – the spiritual descendant of the 1969 A386 and one of the first watches to house the legendary El Primero calibre – is now available with a stunning midnight blue dial. It's the first time Zenith has paired the Chronomaster Original with a full blue dial, and it's a beauty. The brand's signature tricolour subdials (grey, dark grey, and light blue) are still present and correct, but now they sit on a rich blue background that adds a classic edge to this classically styled chronograph. The silver 1/10th of a second track circling the dial provides a crisp contrast, improving legibility while adding to the drama. The 38mm stainless steel case stays true to the 1969 blueprint. It's round and bezel-less, with pump-style pushers, faceted lugs, and a mix of polished and brushed finishes. It's compact, wearable and distinctly vintage in feel, though the performance under the hood is anything but… Powering the watch is the El Primero 3600, Zenith's updated high-frequency chronograph movement. It beats at 5Hz and tracks time down to 1/10th of a second via a central seconds hand that whips around the dial once every ten seconds. It's precise, fast, and visible through a sapphire case back that also reveals a column wheel and open-worked rotor. Buyers get a choice of a classic three-link steel bracelet or a blue calfskin strap with matching stitching – both fitted with folding clasps. Whether you go for steel or leather, this blue-dial Chronomaster feels like a fresh yet faithful tribute to a genuine horological icon. It's available now from Zenith boutiques and the brand's online store, priced at $10,300 / £9300. Liked this? Biver hides a serious watchmaking flex in its latest release


Stuff.tv
4 days ago
- Stuff.tv
Biver hides a serious watchmaking flex in its latest release
At first glance, Biver's latest watch looks understated – clean lines, no cut-outs, and a simple two-hand display. But don't be fooled. Hidden beneath the dial is one of the most technically ambitious movements in modern watchmaking: a tourbillon and carillon minute repeater packed into the same case. It's a serious flex, hidden in plain sight. The Carillon Tourbillon was the first Biver watch, launched in 2023, and previous models have all made a point of showing off their mechanics, especially the dramatic tourbillon at six o'clock. However, the new Signature Series Two-Tone and Signature Series Titanium models go the opposite way. They hide the complications entirely, with a layered gold dial inspired by the Biver Automatique and its neoclassical styling. Both watches use the same case and Calibre JCB.001-B movement as before, with its platinum micro-rotor, 72-hour power reserve and 374 individually hand-finished components. But this time, the tourbillon sits quietly behind the dial. The only sign of complexity is the minute repeater slide on the left-hand side of the case – a subtle hint that there's more going on than the minimal dial suggests. The Two-Tone version combines titanium and rose gold, while the Titanium edition goes full monochrome (one of my favourite watch trends of 2025), with white gold accents. Both watches feature faceted white gold hands and markers, an applied chemin de fer, and come on Biver's sculptural asymmetrical bracelet with a new quick-adjust clasp. Each model is also offered with a pair of matching cufflinks – titanium with brushed gold inlays, designed to mirror the architecture and finish of the watch. For Jean-Claude Biver, the move marks an evolution of his brand's philosophy. 'This is a new expression of that complication that perfectly embodies Biver watchmaking as our brand continues to grow and evolve,' he says. With a price of 475,000 CHF each (approximately US$600,000 / £430,000), these watches are very much collector territory. Still, they're also a refreshing take on high-end watchmaking: complex on the inside, quiet on the outside. A grand complication that's more about satisfying the wearer than showing off to everyone else. Liked this? Vacheron Constantin's latest Grand Complication is made up of almost 700 pieces


Stuff.tv
03-06-2025
- Stuff.tv
One of the best Zenith watches from last year just got an electric new colour
Zenith's DEFY Revival Diver – one of the standout reissues from 2024 – has just resurfaced in an electrifying new look. First shown off in a vibrant orange at Watches and Wonders 2024, this retro-inspired dive watch now adds a stealthy new 'Shadow' edition to its growing roster. And it's a stunner. Originally based on the 1969 DEFY Plongeur A3648, the Revival Diver stays faithful to that original chunky tool-watch aesthetic, with its compact 37mm case, four-thirty crown, and bold rotating bezel. But now it's been reimagined in micro-blasted titanium with a matte finish that gives it a darker, moodier edge. This new version doesn't just look cool – it's built for real diving. We're talking 600 metres of water resistance, just like the original, and that same quirky fourteen-sided outer bezel. This time, though, the inner rotating bezel gets a bright yellow-tinted sapphire insert, tying in with the pops of yellow on the dial. That dial still rocks the same matte black base, with clean Super-LumiNova-filled hands and markers. The yellow accents aren't just for style – they boost visibility when you're underwater. Powering the watch is Zenith's Elite 670 automatic movement. It's slim, reliable, and visible through the display case back – something you rarely see on a watch that can survive at 1,969ft (a nice nod to its birth year). Like its orange sibling, the Revival Diver Shadow comes on a retro-futuristic Gay Frères-style bracelet, also in micro-blasted titanium. It's light, comfy, and nails that old-school-meets-modern feel. Also joining the Shadow squad is the beefier DEFY Extreme Diver. This 42.5mm brute shares the same dark titanium case and yellow detailing but adds a ceramic unidirectional bezel fully filled with Super-LumiNova, a helium escape valve for saturation diving, and a seriously rugged construction. It's powered by the El Primero 3620 – a high-frequency movement beating at 5Hz, with silicon components, a 60-hour power reserve, and a display case back to show it off. The DEFY Extreme Diver Shadow Edition is available now priced at $12,300 / £11,100. The DEFY Revival Shadow Edition is priced at $8,200 / £7,400. Liked this? H. Moser & Cie made fun of the Apple Watch – now it's built its own