Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival A3818 'Cover Girl Carbon' Review

February 07, 2025

If you're on the hunt for a lightweight chronograph, you'll probably want to take a close look at the lightest Zenith Chronomaster Revival, the new "Carbon Cover Girl" from Zenith and the Revolution. Coming in two different forms C more affordable on a velcro strap and more than twice the price on a full carbon Gay Freres-style bracelet C the watch weighs 55 grams and 59 grams, respectively. That's remarkably light for a chronograph, and this latest collaboration between Zenith and Revolution is also incredibly handsome. The watch takes the framework of the "Cover Girl" revival, based on the A384 featured on the cover of Manfred Rossler's book on Zenith. Revolution decided to render the watch in high-modulus carbon fiber, a material that has pushed performance forward in many sectors, including road bikes and cars (they specifically cite the McLaren F1 GTR Longtail, RUF SCR, and Singer's work on 911s).?The case starts with solid blocks from an aerospace supplier; the blocks are then CNC'd by Zenith into a 37mm by 12.5mm case. The carbon case cuts the weight in half from the steel model released in 2020 and shaves a massive 23.2 grams off the 2022 titanium release. The dial is also in matte black carbon fiber with a "shark tooth" chronograph scale, an integrated pulsometer, and a tachymeter at its perimeter. It also features applied Super-LumiNova-filled hands, indices, and chronograph scales. The watch is powered by a high-frequency self-winding El Primero caliber 400, which runs at 5Hz and has a 50-hour power reserve.You get hours, minutes, seconds, date, and a 30-minute and 12-hour totalizer. For $12,320 on a hook-and-loop strap, limited to 150 pieces, you get an experience that probably isn't too far off a Richard Mille in carbon. If you want the carbon fiber bracelet, you'll have to pony up $27,210, but only be 10 made. What We Think My love of blacked-out or black-cased watches is well-known, so it probably comes as no surprise that I really dig this new release. There's no doubt that $27,000 is a lot for a Zenith Revival, but how often do you even see the option of a full carbon bracelet? Further, Revolution has said they could not have made the bracelet any more affordable, hence the very limited production. These Gay Freres ladder bracelets aren't the most robust designs C compared to something like G-Shocks that have been made in carbon fiber before C but it does look very good. I've eyed one of the Revival Shadows for a while, and now that they've made it available on a ladder bracelet, it's even better. But the contrast between the dial printing and the tone of the carbon case on this release takes that same design language and cranks it up a notch. I would say that from a design standpoint, it's objectively just more complete. I'm hoping one day I'll run into someone wearing the watch on the bracelet just to see how the whole package comes together. The Basics Brand: Zenith x RevolutionModel: Chronomaster Revival A3818 'Cover Girl Carbon'Diameter: 37mmThickness: 12.5mmCase Material: High-modulus carbon fiberDial Color: Matte black carbon fiber dialIndexes: "shark tooth" chronograph scale; integrated pulsometer and a tachymeter at its perimeterLume: Applied Super-LumiNova filled hands, indices, chronograph scalesWater Resistance: 50mStrap/Bracelet: Carbon fiber velcro strap or Gay Frres-inspired ladder-style carbon fiber bracelet The Movement Caliber: El Primero caliber 400Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph with 60-minute and 12-hour countersPower Reserve: 50mWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 5 HzAdditional Details: 55 grams on velcro strap; Caseback and movement ring in blacked-out Grade 5 titanium Pricing & Availability Price: $12,320 on velcro, $27,210 on carbon fiber strapAvailability: Limited Edition: Limited edition of 150 pieces (carbon fiber velcro strap), 10 pieces (carbon fiber bracelet)For more, click here.