Zenith Chronomaster Original "HODINKEE" SS Salmon Dial LIMITED

Released in 2022, the Zenith Chronomaster Original for HODINKEE is a 300-piece limited edition that pairs the revived A386-inspired case with an opaline salmon dial made specifically for this collaboration. The 38mm stainless steel case preserves the compact, late-1960s proportions collectors want from the Chronomaster Original, while the tri-color registers are reinterpreted here in restrained shades of grey that let the dial take center stage. Inside is the automatic El Primero caliber 3600, Zenith's modern high-frequency column-wheel chronograph movement, capable of displaying true 1/10th of a second elapsed time with the central chronograph hand completing a full rotation every 10 seconds. The movement also brings a 60-hour power reserve and a contemporary architecture that remains faithful to the El Primero lineage first established in 1969. This was the first limited edition within the Chronomaster Original line, and its HODINKEE-specific execution gives it a distinct place in the broader modern Zenith catalog. The watch balances vintage-correct design cues such as the pump pushers, faceted lugs, and 4:30 date with the sharper performance and reliability expected from a current-production El Primero. Collectors tend to value this reference for being more than a color variation; it is a tightly edited collaboration that respects Zenith's chronograph heritage without diluting the design language that made the original A386 so important. The salmon opaline dial is unusually successful in person, giving the watch a warm tone that contrasts beautifully with the steel case and monochromatic sub-registers. For buyers focused on limited modern chronographs with real historical grounding, this reference stands out as one of the most thoughtful Zenith collaborations of the period. Like New with Zenith box and papers dated 2022.