A quick glance tells us this is a Zenith Chronomaster Revival, with a dial in an unusual shade of yellow. End of story? More like the beginning. Because what you see is not all you get. There is the watch and the spirit of the watch.
The spirit is that of Zenith and its energetic CEO, Julien Tornare, spotted at the Kai Enzo overlooking Dubai’s spectacular skyline. The watch he is wearing, the Chronomaster Revival Dubai Watch Club, goes beyond what most brands would dare.
69 and not one more
“Exclusive” doesn’t begin to describe this watch. 69 will be made and not one more. A drop in Dubai’s marina and far too few to satisfy local collectors. In a word, a limited edition that will create more frustration than contentment. It’s a risky strategy but Zenith stands by its decision. The Dubai Watch Club is small (around a hundred members) but going strong, as it prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year. By creating a watch especially for the club, Zenith is showing its support and acknowledging members’ dedication to horology.
Go East
The markings are in Eastern Arabic numerals. Something which doesn’t come naturally to the brand or, let’s face it, the watch industry at large which, since its creation, has adorned its dials with Western Arabic numerals. You must dig deep into the archives to see other cultures, other alphabets, take pride of place – more often than not bespoke pieces commissioned by luminaries of the watch-collecting world.
With love from me to you
The watch will go straight from the brand to the end customer: not the standard business model of a major manufacturer such as Zenith. Like most of its counterparts, Zenith distributes its products through its own stores and through authorised retailers. This “direct to consumer” approach could ruffle a few feathers; for Zenith, it’s about maintaining close relations with its most loyal collectors.
The first DWC chrono
This is not just the first sports watch commissioned by the Dubai Watch Club; it is the first chronograph. Thus Zenith, and its Chronomaster Revival, are turning a fresh page in the Dubai Watch Club story. Such a responsibility called for a powerful design, hence the yellow dial and the Eastern Arabic font. The founder of the Dubai Watch Club describes “the wonderful experience of bringing this project to fruition with the team at Zenith, and adding our personal touch while respecting the heritage of the brand and the model.”
The Club’s members were won over by the vintage tonneau case, taut lines and compact (37mm) proportions of the A384, which went down in history as Zenith’s first El Primero chronograph in steel when it came out in 1969. Taking inspiration from the Chronomaster Revival Shadow, introduced in 2020, the Dubai Watch Club edition is cased in matte microblasted titanium, chosen as much for its light weight as its resistance.
Rare yellow
As for the dial, its yellow colour is downright explosive. Yellow is a shade rarely seen in watchmaking. You’ll find yellow dials at Bovet (Recital 21), Breitling (Superocean), Doxa (SUB 600T), FP Journe (Centigraph S) and Audemars Piguet (Royal Oak Offshore), but that’s pretty much it as far as good mechanical watches are concerned. As a 69-piece limited edition, the Chronomaster Revival Dubai Watch Club won’t add much to the ranks of yellow-hued watches but it will definitely be noticed.
