The Low-Down

Zenith has been on an absolute tear this year — releasing some of the most exciting new releases of 2021. And, with the release of the Zenith Chronomaster Revival Safari, it doesn’t look like they’re slowing down any time soon. Taking the now-familiar (and incredibly popular) Chronomaster Revival case inspired by the A384 and prepared it for the great outdoors.

IMHO

The resulting watch is, as you can see, green. In and of itself, that’s no surprise. After all, green is the colour of the moment. The way Zenith have used the colour works really well here.

The dial, which appears to have a very appealing matte texture, ranges from deep olive to cooler spruce tones, and the contrast with the black subdials and the beige luminous materials works well. The strap matches a green rubber/Cordura number to coordinate with the dial, down to the off-white contrasting stitch. In a design sense, what really pops is the green dial and the microblasted titanium case (Zenith Revival aficionados will remember the ‘Shadow’ used the same case style to great effect). In addition to having the usual properties of lightness and strength, the light-absorbing grey titanium case just cools cool, adding some utilitarian credibility to the Safari name of this powerful-yet-petite 37mm chronograph.

Speaking of chronographs, it should come as no surprise to anyone reading. Still, the movement is this Zenith is none other than the famous El Primero, particularly the El Primero 400 Automatic, with the usual complications, an appropriately camouflaged green date wheel and solid 50-odd hours of power reserve.

Refreshing, appetising designs like this Chronomaster Revival Safari, along with the more modern Chronomaster Sport demonstrates the fire of inspiration that’s currently burning Zenith’s design department, as the brand is bringing real heat to the crowded — and occasionally cluttered — chronograph segment.

Tech Specs

Movement: El Primero 400 Automatic; 36,000 VPH; minimum power reserve of 50 hours; central chronograph hand; 12-hour counter at six o’clock; 30-minute counter at three o’clock; date indication at 4:30.
Case and dial: Microblasted titanium case; original 1969 case with 37mm diameter; khaki green dial with black counters and beige Super-Luminova.
Strap: Khaki green “Cordura effect” strap and white stitching; microblasted titanium pin buckle.
Price and availability: CHF8900;available from Zenith boutiques & e-commerce from June 2021.