Jamie Weiss
Zenith and Revolution draw their limited edition trilogy to a close in dramatic style with a full forged carbon Chronomaster Revival.The juxtaposition between the A3818 ‘Cover Girl’-faithful vintage design cues (including its carbon Gay Freres ladder bracelet) and high-tech case material is enticing and unexpected.Weighing just 55 grams (on strap), the ‘Cover Girl Carbon’ also ranks as Zenith’s lightest watch yet.Our friends over at Revolution know a thing or two about a stylish limited edition… But none have been as stylish as their Chronomaster Revival A3818 ‘Cover Girls’. Earning its nickname for being featured as the cover image of Manfred R?ssler’s landmark book, Zenith: Swiss Watch Manufacture Since 1865, the blue dial ref. A3818 represents one of the most coveted vintage Zenith references on the market. When Zenith in partnership with Revolution revived the ‘Cover Girl’ in 2020, it was a masterstroke – emblematic of Revolution’s status as a horological tastemaker. Zenith and Revolution followed that release up in 2022 with the ‘Airweight Cover Girl’, a svelter titanium take on the design. Now, in 2025, they’re bringing this collaboration to a triumphant conclusion with the ‘Cover Girl Carbon’ – which continues its weight-loss regime, crafting the Chronomaster Revival in forged carbon fibre.L-R: the Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival A3818 Cover Girl’ (steel), the ‘Cover Girl Carbon’ and the ‘Airweight Cover Girl’ (titanium).Indeed, the Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival A3818 Cover Girl Carbon' is officially the lightest Zenith watch yet, weighing just 55 grams on its Velcro strap, and 60 grams on its bracelet. Romain Marietta, Zenith Director of Product Development and Heritage., says that “the objective was to create the very lightest and most shock-resistant A384- and A3818-style watch we've ever made”.For comparison, the first Zenith x Revolution ‘Cover Girl’, which was steel, weighed 111g, the titanium ‘Airweight Cover Girl’ was 81g, and the average steel Rolex Oyster bracelet weighs about 73g. Revolution also explains that 55 grams is identical to the Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Ultra Light, or about as much as your kitchen sponge… I think we’ve made our point. It’s one of the sportiest chronographs Zenith has ever produced; even sportier than the already avant-garde, micro-blasted titanium Chronomaster Revival Shadow.While the airiness provided by its Velcro strap is laudable, the most stunning element of this watch in many ways is its case-matching bracelet. It’s the first time the already-lightweight Chronomaster Revival’s iconic Gay Freres ladder bracelet has been crafted out of carbon composite: the juxtaposition between this very vintage design and this high-tech material is extremely compelling. It’s like the horological equivalent of a Singer Porsche – a comparison that’s also been made by Drew Coblitz,?Revolution's automotive editor-at-large, who elaborates that “it’s kind of the best of both worlds – incredible elegant OG design combined with totally modern performance.The Cover Girl Carbon’s dedication to modernity extends to its dial, which eschews the blue sunburst of other Cover Girls for a carbon fibre dial. It at once provides visual continuity with the high-modulus carbon case, while also offering a subtle textural point of difference, its jagged flakes contrasting with the swirls of the case and bracelet. Revolution founder Wei Koh explains that a blue carbon fibre dial was toyed with, but the team ultimately opted for a raw carbon dial, “simply because it showcased the beauty of the material in such a great way”. Additionally, every single index and marker on its dial is luminous, including the Zenith logo text at 12 o’clock. However, the other key Cover Girl design cues, such as the ‘shark-tooth’ tachymeter scale, alternating subdial track quadrants, and a vintage-appropriate 37mm case diameter, remain.Under the hood of the Cover Girl Carbon beats an El Primero 400, Zenith’s iconic high-beat automatic chronograph movement in its purest form, which offers a 5 Hz beat rate, 1/10th of a second measuring capability, and a 50-hour power reserve. For a watch that captures the glamour of motorsports’ experiments with carbon fibre, it’s the perfect engine.“For our third collaboration with Zenith, we have the incredible pleasure of presenting the first ever Chronomaster Revival A3818 ‘Cover Girl Carbon' reimagined in a full carbon fibre construction, a material that embodies strength, lightness, and modernity,” Revolution founder Wei Koh relates. “It's our passionate tribute to one of the rarest El Primero watches. In today's market, we wanted this collaboration to deliver more than just aesthetic appeal. It had to offer true revolutionary quality and value to collectors. The legendary Cover Girl', elevated with cutting-edge carbon fibre, presents just that.”Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival A3818 Cover Girl Carbon' pricing and availabilityThe Middle East exclusive version of the Cover Girl Carbon, which features Eastern Arabic numerals at 12 o'clock, on subdial markings, on the chronograph scale, and on the date window.The Zenith x Revolution Chronomaster Revival A3818 Cover Girl Carbon' is a limited edition of 150 pieces on a Velcro strap, and only 10 pieces on a carbon fibre bracelet. Additionally, a Middle East-exclusive version of the ‘Cover Girl Carbon’ – which features Eastern Arabic numerals in place of the model’s standard Western Arabics – is a limited edition of 50 pieces. Revolution and Zenith will also be donating 5% of the proceeds from this release to the Los Angeles Fire Department, in recognition of the watch’s planned and now cancelled LA launch event. Price: US$12,320, 12,870 (Velcro), US$27,210, 28,400 (bracelet)BrandZenith x RevolutionModelChronomaster Revival A3818 Cover Girl Carbon'Reference Number10.A3818.400-2/21.R100Case Dimensions37mm (D) x 12.6mm (T) x 47mm (LTL)Case MaterialHigh-modulus carbon fibreWeight55g (on Velcro)60g (on bracelet)Water Resistance50 metresCrystal(s)Sapphire front and backDialCarbon fibreLug Width19mmStrapVelcro carbon fibre-print textile strap with carbon fibre keeperGay Freres-inspired ladder carbon fibre braceletAdditional black leather strap suppliedMovementEl Primero 400, in-house, automatic, 5HzPower Reserve50 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, small seconds, date, 1/10th-second chronographAvailability150 pieces (on Velcro)10 pieces (on bracelet)50 pieces (Eastern Arabic numerals, Middle East exclusive)PriceUS$12,320, 12,870 (Velcro)US$27,210, 28,400 (bracelet)
07.02.25