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Zenith brings back the ladder bracelet for the Chronomaster Revival Shadow and Safari
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Zenith brings back the ladder bracelet for the Chronomaster Revival Shadow and Safari

Borna Bošnjak
  • Originally designed by Gay Frères in 1969, the ladder bracelet is back on the Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow in matte titanium.
  • If you’re already a Chronomaster Revival Shadow owner, you can purchase the bracelet separately as an accessory.
  • Both the Revival Shadow and Revival Safari models are offered with the new bracelet, priced at A$15,100.

Scoring an original bracelet when purchasing a vintage watch is an oft-added component that sets apart nice examples from the really nice ones. When considering a vintage Zenith El Primero, this is particularly important, given the unique nature of the Gay Frères ladder bracelets many of the early El Primeros were paired with. Designed by the iconic bracelet manufacturers in 1969, the design was given its name thanks to the three-link design with intermittent, “missing” central links, giving it the look of rungs as the bracelet wrapped around one’s wrist. Having championed the Revival series in recent years, this isn’t the first instance of a matte titanium ladder bracelet we’ve seen, having already appeared in the Defy Revival Shadow from 2023, but it is now offered out of the box on the Chronomaster Revival Shadow and Chronomaster Revival Safari.

zenith defy revival shadow titanium ladder bracelet

The difference from a colourway perspective is subtle. The bracelet is naturally matched to the micro-blasted finish of the titanium cases, matching the sub-dials and tachymetric scale, while the cordura straps would correspond to the main dial colour.

zenith defy revival shadow titanium ladder bracelet movement

The El Primero 4061 movement also remains, offering a 50-hour power reserve, automatic winding, and a 5Hz beat rate. In terms of finishing, it’s the component that stands out among this monochromatic affair the most, with perlage and striping dotted with a few blued screws.

zenith defy revival shadow titanium ladder bracelet wrist 1

But we’re here to talk about the bracelet, and most importantly how it feels on the wrist. The original was created to improve comfort, Zenith and Gay Frères believing the removal of the centre links would help with airflow. While I have no data to back up my claims other than the good ol’ “trust me, bro”, the lithe weight of the titanium construction coupled with the open design really does make for a comfortable wearing experience. More subjectively, I think this is also a great design matchup for the micro-blasted, matte Chronomaster Revival models, as it complements the muted tones and softened angles of the case, too.

Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow and Chronomaster Revival Safari pricing and availability

The Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow is now available with either a black cordura strap or matte titanium ladder bracelet. Price: US$9,200, A$14,300 (strap), US$9,800, A$15,100 (bracelet)

Brand Zenith
Model Chronomaster Revival Shadow
Chronomaster Revival Safari
Case Dimensions 37mm (D) x 12.6mm (T)
Case Material Micro-blasted titanium
Water Resistance 50 metres
Crystal(s) Sapphire front and back
Dial Black, khaki green
Strap and bracelet Black or khaki cordura, folding clasp
Micro-blasted titanium ladder bracelet, folding clasp
Movement El Primero 4061, in-house, automatic, 5Hz
Power Reserve 50 hours
Functions Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph
Availability Now
Price US$9,200, A$14,300 (strap)
US$9,800, A$15,100 (bracelet)