Zenith returns to the world of Japanese manga with the Chronomaster Revival Daisuke Jigen Edition. This new limited series once again transforms an animated fantasy into a very tangible El Primero chronograph. The brand's connection to Lupine the Third dates back to the early 1970s, when Daisuke Jigen, the series' sharp-dressed gunman, was depicted wearing a watch clearly modeled on Zenith's 1969 reference A384, a watch that never actually existed in the catalog. Since 2019, Zenith has systematically recreated this fictional chronograph in metal, first in black, then in panda and finally with a two-tone dial that combines both designs.
This fourth edition stays true to the original 37mm A384 revival, but shifts the focus to stealth and texture and uses the Shadow edition as a base. The tonneau-shaped case is made of micro-blasted titanium, highlighting the dark gray tone of the metal and underlining the watch's lightweight suitability for everyday use. Despite its dark appearance, the case is not coated and only the surface treatment is responsible for this color. A domed sapphire crystal protects the dial, and a sapphire case back reveals the movement with an engraved silhouette of Daisuke Jigen.
The beige dial takes up the vintage flair of the earlier Lupine models, but uses a simpler layout. Black chronograph counters and a black printed tachymeter scale anchor the design, while ruthenium-plated hands and applied hour markers, all filled with beige Super-LumiNova, ensure legibility with a warm, contemporary character. The date remains at 4:30, like the original A384 and Jigen's Manga watch.
The El Primero 400 caliber maintains the connection to 1969. Developed and manufactured in-house, this integrated column wheel chronograph runs at 36,000 vibrations per hour, measures elapsed time to the tenth of a second, and offers a 50-hour power reserve. On the caseback is the well-known architecture of the movement under the anime reference to Jigen. The watch is offered with Zenith's signature ladder bracelet, originally designed by Gay Frères for the first El Primero models and reinterpreted here in micro-blasted titanium to match the case.
Limited to 200 pieces, the Chronomaster Revival Daisuke Jigen Edition will debut exclusively at the Zenith pop-up at Isetan Shinjuku before being available at Zenith boutiques, the brand's online platform and select retailers worldwide. The rice is CHF 10,400 or 1,430,000 JPY. Further information at Zenith-watches.com.
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