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Zenith and SJX unveil Chronomaster Revival “Poker Chip” model
By Tempus | 24 November 2021 | Lifestyle, Style
This rare model, inspired by the El Primero G383, is sure to serve as a highly sought-after collectible
Zenith and SJX Watches has launched a sleek reinterpretation of one of the brand’s most famed vintage watches with the Chronomaster Revival “Poker Chip”, inspired by the El Primero G383.
The G383 is considered by collectors to be one of the most intriguing models in Zenith’s archives; it was first introduced in 1969 and is among the rarest and most sought-after iterations of the early El Primero variants.
Featuring a design with roots in the psychedelic era of the late 1960s – and reminiscent of the A386 and its tri-coloured dial – the G383 was characterised by a wildly sectored layout. Developed in partnership with one of Zenith’s trusted dial suppliers at the time, the dial stood out with its boldly alternating colours that recall a poker chip, earning it its nickname.
This collaboration began in May 2020 when Su Jiaxian, founder of Singapore-based watch magazine SJX Watches, reached out to Zenith’s Director of Product & Heritage, Romain Marietta, with a proposal to revive the G383 with a distinctive, modern twist.
“I’ve long admired the El Primero for its longevity, and Zenith for its rich heritage,” explains SJX. “I wanted to do something that would combine both the movement and its history, but rather than a remake, I wanted something that might sound like a paradox: a design immediately recognisable as the G383 but unmistakably novel and different.”
The Poker Chip dial is dark grey with printed segments in matte black and Super-Luminova. More “lume” can be found on the hour markers, chronograph scales, as well as the radial patterns around each register. In a nod to Zenith’s landmark wristwatch, it uses the same 38 mm case as the El Primero A386, but executed in micro-blasted titanium, giving it a finely grained, dark-grey finish that echoes the colours of the dial. Within the titanium case – and visible through the sapphire back – is the El Primero movement, essentially the same calibre as the 1969 model.