Zenith is following upon their A384 Liberty edition from 2020 with a new design meant to serve as a nod to America’s 250th anniversary. The watch is called the Liberty II, and it retains some of the more unique details of the original wrapped in a new dial colorway. In addition to the steel case, this one is also getting a black carbon option fit to a blue Cordura rubber strap, bringing out a very different personality of this design. The Chronomaster Revival series has hosted a range of special edition designs, proving to be a versatile platform for Zenith to stretch their legs creatively. It’s still a throwback in nature, but it’s also more than that.
The story with the Liberty edition is centered around Zenith founder, Georges Favre-Jacot, and his trips to America which would end up shaping his approach to industry, and ultimately end up with the vertically integrated manufacturing that would underpin the brand. Given the anniversary year for the USA, a new Liberty edition is a fitting reminder of a design theme that began with the original in 2020. The watch itself picks up on patriotic cues with a red, blue, and white colorway, displaying the colors of the once great nation.
The watch begins with a familiar 37mm case inspired by a design that originated in 1969, though it feels just as relevant today for its wearability and unique angular design. This case is being offered in both steel and black carbon, though if you want the old-school ladder bracelet you’ll be limited to the steel. Moving the dial is where things get interesting, with a matte white base joined by deep blue accents at the perimeter and each of the three sub-dials. Finally, the red and white segmented timing seconds hand first seen in the original returns to provide just enough red to the design. The date disc is also white with the number four appearing in red to reinforce the accent.
The final easter eggs can be found in the tachymeter surrounding the dial, where the 250 mark is rendered in red. Against the dark blue, this makes the number nearly invisible at a glance, but when’s the last time you found yourself actually using the tachymeter of your chronograph? It’s a welcome detail that brings some subtlety to the situation if you can get past the wild timing hand.
Zenith is once again using the El Primero 400 caliber for this watch, which is visible through an exhibition back, and allows for a total thickness of 12.5mm. It’s a tidy, if slightly tankish form on the wrist, and very easy to get along with in day to day wear. The steel Liberty II will be limited to 250 pieces, and is priced at $10,600, while just 25 examples will be produced in black carbon, which will be priced at $13,400. Zenith
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