Zenith was established in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, Switzerland, pioneering the concept of a manufacture by uniting all watchmaking processes under one roof. By 1900, Zenith’s precision timepieces had won numerous chronometry awards, a testament to its innovative approach. By 1925, the company employed over 1,000 workers, making it one of the largest Swiss watchmakers of the era.

The 1969 release of the El Primero movement —considered as the first integrated automatic chronograph— revolutionized the industry with its high-frequency, 36,000 vibrations per hour movement, offering unmatched precision and the ability to measure time to 1/10th of a second. Zenith continued to innovate, surviving the quartz crisis of the 1970s and regaining prominence under the LVMH group, which acquired the brand in 1999.

The Zenith A3817 was introduced in 1971 as part of the brand’s El Primero collection, showcasing the groundbreaking automatic chronograph movement launched in 1969. This model stood out for its distinctively sporty design, featuring a tonneau-shaped stainless steel case and a tri-color dial with blue subdials and a light gray background. The A3817 was equipped with the high-frequency El Primero caliber 3019 PHC, ensuring precise timekeeping and a tachymeter scale for functionality. In 2021, 50 years later, Zenith released the A3817 Revival, with identical dimensions and design, yet invisible —yet substantial— upgrades: sapphire crystal and the El Primero 400 movement, amongst others.

This particular A3817 Revival was delivered new in January 2022 at the Dubai Mall Zenith boutique, and it is in as-new condition. The watch comes with its ‘Gay Freres’ style ladder bracelet, box, owner’s manual, warranty card, service voucher, extra links, and matching leather card sleeve.