Editor’s Note: Need a quick watch fix? This preview of the new Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third is a GET TO THE POINT (GTTP) review with all the info you want / need to know QUICK. For our actual hands-on reviews, please head to the dedicated section here. Now let’s get to the point.
What Is The Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin
The new Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third Final Edition that quite literally splits and marries the first two editions.
Why & When
Ever since the 2019 1st edition Chronomaster A384 “Lupin The Third” hit the streets, the hype for this has been real. This series was the first watch ever made to be inspired by a Japanese anime series and appeared in the Japanese Manga.
First announced in January 2022 as a lead in to the third edition of the LVMH Watch Week 2022 (January 24 – 28, 2022).
Where To Find The Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin
In Sydney, both Gregory Jewellers and Swiss Concept are/used to be the Authorised dealers. Though given these were announced as a limited edition release of only 250-pieces and Australia sadly still doesn’t really get all the allocation in the world, your best bet would be to contact the brand directly.
Globally, the new Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third Final Edition should be available at Zenith physical boutiques and online boutiques around the world.
Who Is It For
This was going to be my first or only 2022 purchase, until life happened.
To state that it’s for lovers of the brand or the Lupin character is staring straight in the face of a camel and asking whether it can take you for a trek into the desert.
Besides the above two obvious choices, I would say if anyone wants to have a slice of the legacy of the El Primero movement, Zenith’s watchmaking heritage, or simply a cool panda meets reverse panda watch, this is the moment to strike. It has an alluring split personality to the dial. It is the Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde watch.
Firing On All Cylinders
The dial of course is the main talking point here. There is that movement and the ladder-style bracelet and the instantly recognisable A384 tonneau-shaped case, but they all follow suit.
I respect that the dial evolution has been a direct result of this collaboration between the brand and the manga series; the edition 1 from 2019 had the dial reminiscent of a watch worn by Daisuke Jigen — the right-hand man and best friend of the title character Lupin III — in the first episode and then the 2nd edition from October 2020 features a dial recalling the timepiece worn by Jigen again but this time from the final episode of the first series.
Given these were the only two occasions in the anime series, and to harness the demand of the edition 1 and 2, it only seems natural for Zenith to combine the two dials.
The two distinct and asymmetrical halves look is rather unique in the world of luxury watches, and the combination of a semi-glossy black dial with deep grey counters and golden applied markers and hands with a creamy-white dial with contrasting black counters in a “panda” configuration with beige SuperLumiNova is sure-fire wrist magic.
The Dial
It is not simply a paint job and it’s done; the dials of the new Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third Final Edition are a by product of a long process.
“The blank dial is first finished entirely in a silvery-white colour on the right half, then the black chronograph counters are milled while the rest of the dial is protected with a layer of transparent and colourless lacquer. As the second half of the dial must be painted black, the other white half of the dial is given a protective layer”.
Here you have to realise that if the protective layer is not applied properly, the colours can bleed into one another, creating a united dial each time but not what the brand set out to do. It is this straight, sharp, clear-cut division of the dial that’s so appealing here.
The dial features rhodium-plated or Gold-plated faceted and coated with Beige SuperLuminova ®SLN markers and hands.
Basic Specs of the Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin
We can’t really talk about a Zenith Chronomaster Revival timepiece and not mention the A384. A reproduction of the 1969 case, this 37mm titanium barrel-shaped case comes on a titanium ladder bracelet first designed by the Gay Frères company.
Inside the ref. 95.L384.400/50.M384 ticks the automatic winding column-wheel chronograph movement calibre El Primero 400 Automatic. It comprises 278 parts, beats at the frequency of 5Hz (36’000 A/h), and features a decent (min.) 50 hour power reserve.
The calibre El Primero 400 has been in production since 1986 is based on the 1985 re-issue Cal. 40.0 which in turn was based on the 1969 original automatic chronograph movement the calibre 3019PHC.
All the three editions of Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third series feature this historic movement. This Final edition features also features a sapphire display case-back engraved with a drawing of Daisuke Jigen.
The watch features only 50m water-resistance though, and retails for 9’900 CHF or 14’300 AUD.
To find out more about the new Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third – Final Edition and other Zenith watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise stated are courtesy are ©Zenith. All rights reserved.
