Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival A3818 'Cover Girl Carbon': A Lightweight Watch with Serious Cool Factor

What’s the Deal?

Zenith has teamed up with Revolution to drop a new chronograph, the Chronomaster Revival A3818 'Cover Girl Carbon.' It's a lightweight, 37mm piece that looks like it just stepped out of a retro sci-fi movie - only it's real and available (well, kinda, if you're quick enough). Weighing just 55 grams on a velcro strap and 59 grams with the full carbon bracelet, this watch feels like wearing a shadow on your wrist. And for us who love watches, that’s pretty damn exciting.

The watch is based on the legendary A384, a design that became a cult favorite after being on the cover of Manfred Rössler's Zenith bible. Now, it’s been given a modern makeover in carbon fiber, a material that is mostly known from the car sector but can be found on your wrist more often as well. Zenith's not just putting on some carbon stickers here; they start with aerospace-grade blocks and machine it down into a compact case that sits at 12.5mm thick.

Source: Hodinkee

The Feel and Vibe

The dial is all matte black carbon fiber, with that signature “shark tooth” chronograph scale that looks like it could double as a speedometer on a spaceship. You’ve got a pulsometer and tachymeter sitting around the edges, plus Super-LumiNova hands and indices so you can still read it during the darkest conditions. Inside, it's the famous El Primero caliber 400, a high-frequency automatic 5Hz movement that gives you a solid 50 hours of power reserve. Basically, it’s the same engine that powered some of Zenith’s most iconic chronographs back in the day.

As for the strap situation, you can go for the carbon velcro option or enjoy the full carbon bracelet, which mimics the retro Gay Frères ladder-style design. The velcro version will cost you around €11,400, while the carbon bracelet pushes it to a whopping €25,200. Sure, it’s not the cheapest pasta, but full carbon bracelets aren’t exactly growing on trees.

Source: Hodinkee

Our Two Cents

We love a good blacked-out watch. There’s just something stealthy and undeniably cool about a dark case, especially when it’s paired with a high-performance movement like the El Primero. The A3818 Carbon hits that sweet spot between retro design and modern materials. Sure, €25k for a Zenith might raise some eyebrows, but hey, this isn’t just any watch.

I mean, how often do you get the chance to own a full carbon bracelet? Plus, only 10 of those versions exist.

Source: Hodinkee

Some Details

• Case: 37mm wide, 12.5mm thick, made of high-modulus carbon fiber

• Dial: Matte black carbon with a shark tooth chronograph scale, pulsometer, and tachymeter

• Lume: Super-LumiNova on hands, indices, and chrono scales

• Movement: El Primero caliber 400, automatic, 5Hz, 50-hour power reserve

• Water Resistance: 50m—fine for a rain shower, but maybe skip the pool

• Weight: 55g on velcro, 59g on carbon bracelet

Source: Hodinkee

Should You Buy It?

If you're into lightweight, stealthy chronographs with a cool backstory, this one's a no-brainer. But act fast: only 150 of the velcro-strap versions are available, and just 10 of the carbon bracelet models. 

It’s not the cheapest Zenith, but for what you’re getting, is more than worth it.