Zenith Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third Final Edition

In 2019, Zenith became the first manufacture to produce a watch directly inspired by a depiction in a Japanese manga and anime series. In the very first episode of the animated Lupin The Third series, Daisuke Jigen, the debonair right-hand man and best friend of the title character Arsène Lupin III, is portrayed wearing a watch based on the A384 with a black, grey and gilt dial that had never actually existed. And in the final episode of the first series, Jigen is again portrayed to be wearing another Zenith chronograph, but with a different panda dial that also never existed.

Nearly 50 years after the initial airing of the anime series, Zenith finally turned fantasy into reality in 2019 by producing the Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third, using the instantly recognizable A384 tonneau-shaped case and recreating the unusual black dial depicted in the first episode. The following year, the second white and panda dial version was released. Now, the third and final limited edition in this exceptional collaboration has arrived, and it couldn’t be more unexpected with both dials in one.

Featuring two distinct and asymmetrical halves combining all the elements from both the Zenith chronographs depicted in the first and final episode of the animated series’ first season. On one side, the first Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third edition’s semi-glossy black dial with deep grey counters and golden applied markers and hands, and on the other side, the second edition’s creamy-white dial with contrasting black counters in a panda configuration with beige superluminova. Whimsical, playful, and certainly polarizing, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to creating such a singular dial, which presented the teams at the Zenith Manufacture with a new and unprecedented kind of challenge.

A delicate and long process, the blank dial is first finished entirely in a silvery-white color 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 colorless lacquer. As the second half of the dial must be painted black, the other white half of the dial is given a protective layer. If the protection isn’t correctly applied, colors can bleed into each other, ruining the dial. Another layer of complexity is added in that a third grey color must be applied for the counters. With each step in the process, the chances of something going wrong increase. Successfully completing one dial is challenging enough. Reproducing the dual-dial effect with perfectly separated elements for an entire series proved nearly impossible, but the uniquely intriguing result made it well worth the effort.

This truly unequaled dial is housed in a 37 mm steel barrel-shaped case that is a reproduction of the 1969 A384 case in proportions and finishes. It’s paired with a steel ladder bracelet originally designed by Gay Frères company with a distinctly retro touch. Beating within is the automatic calibre El Primero 400 integrated chronograph beating at a frequency of 36,000 vph to provide a power reserve of 50 hours. The movement is visible through the sapphire display case back engraved with a drawing of Daisuke Jigen.

For those who missed out on the first and second special editions or simply wish to complete their set and enjoy the dial’s dual personalities, The Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third ‘Final Edition’ is available in a limited edition of only 250 pieces.

Sticker Price $10,000 USD. For more info on Zenith click here.

Chronomaster Revival Lupin The Third – Final Edition

Reference: 95.L384.400/50.M384

Key points: Original 1969 case with 37 mm diameter. Automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph movement. Splitted dial taking inspiration from the former 2 Editions. Limited edition of 250 pieces.
Movement: El Primero 400 Automatic

Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)
Power reserve: min. 50 hours
Functions: Hours and minutes in the centre. Small seconds at nine o’clock. Chronograph: central chronograph hand, 12-hour counter at six o’clock, 30-minute counter at three
o’clock. Tachymetric scale. Date indication at 4:30
Case: 37-mm
Material: Brushed Titanium
Dial: Black & white
Water-resistance: 5 ATM
Price: $10,000 USD
Hour-markers: Rhodium-plated or Gold-plated, faceted and coated with Beige SuperLuminova ®SLN
Hands: Rhodium-plated or Gold-plated, faceted and coated with Beige SuperLuminova ®SLN Bracelet & Buckle: Titanium "ladder" bracelet and double folding clasp.