16 LEGACY RENEWED

The Zenith El Primero is commonly associated with the round-shaped Chronomaster. However, its first-ever iteration was a tonneau-shaped watch. We explore the most faithful reproduction of the timepiece yet, the Chronomaster El Primero A384 Revival

- WORDS KARISHMA TULSIDAS

The post-World War II years marked a pivotal moment for watchmaking. While earlier timepieces had been forged for the battlefield, the decades that followed, particularly the 1960s through the 1970s, were an era of pure creative energy. Watchmakers flexed their prowess in aesthetics, craftsmanship, and technical ingenuity.

The boldness and electric ambition of that time gave rise to iconic rivalries: the race to be the first watch in space (won by Omega), the race to develop the first quartz watch (claimed by the Japanese), and perhaps most famously, the race to build the most accurate chronograph.