With their fourth collaboration with the seminal Lupin the Third franchise, Zenith has unveiled yet another version of the Chronomaster Revival! Once again, the watch pays tribute to the gruff-but-loyal marksman that wears it: Daisuke Jigen.
You’d think that, from a surface-level observation, the worlds of anime and manga and the world of watchmaking would hardly intersect. It’s not an unfair assumption; one is a Japanese art form built on animation and graphic novels, while the other revolves around gears and metal. Yet they share a similarity in how each strives to tell a good story.
Whether it’s the iconic people who wore them, the craftsmanship behind them, or the purpose they were built for, watches have the same capacity to tell a story as anime and manga. It makes sense, then, for anime and manga characters to wear watches in their universes that reflect their personal values. This is why, perhaps, Zenith has chosen to collaborate with an iconic Japanese franchise to release a new timepiece based on the tastes of one of the series’ most recognisable characters.
But while Light Yagami scribbles in the Death Note with his Omega Speedmaster, and Jotaro Kujo’s TAG Heuer is stolen from him, one of the best examples of watch-wearing in Japanese fiction is Daisuke Jigen in Monkey Punch’s Lupin the Third. An unflappable sharpshooter, Jigen is shown wearing watches that closely resembled the Zenith A384 — first with a black dial, later with a silver panda dial. The watch never existed in 1971, yet it became an enduring part of Jigen’s visual identity and eventually caught Zenith’s attention.
Zenith later transformed this fictional watch into reality. In 2019, as part of the A384’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the brand released three models over the following couple of years. The first mirrored the black dial with gilt accents; the second recreated the panda dial; the third fused both into an asymmetrical two-tone design. Each release was met with praise for how it blended pop-culture storytelling with genuine Swiss watchmaking.
The new Chronomaster Revival Daisuke Jigen Edition continues this legacy with a fresh perspective. Announced alongside the Defy Extreme Lapis Lazuli at Dubai Watch Week 2025, the new watch focusses more on Zenith’s own history rather than character nostalgia alone. Retaining the same 37 mm width, 46 mm length and 12.8 mm height, this version departs from tradition by avoiding steel for the first time.
Instead, it uses a sandblasted Grade 2 titanium case, bringing it closer in spirit to the Zenith Chronomaster Revival Shadow. In a historically faithful yet surprisingly ergonomic package, the watch is paired with Zenith’s iconic ladder bracelet, originally designed in 1969 by the famed Gay Frères. Delightfully retro while offering improved durability and breathability, the ladder bracelet has become a staple within the Revival lineup.
The dial of the Daisuke Jigen Edition is both a subtle storyteller and a vintage tribute, featuring a warm beige tone inspired by the natural patinas that many original A384s would likely have developed. Interestingly, the dial is not uniformly coloured; instead, it displays tonal variations and a soft texture that evoke authentic ageing, giving the watch an immediate sense of depth and history. Complete with black chronograph registers, the dial has also been considerably simplified, with the descriptive text beneath the Zenith logo and typeface removed.
Turning the watch around, the entire piece is powered by the Calibre El Primero 400, Zenith’s premier in-house chronograph movement. In fact, it forms the basis for a wide range of Zenith’s chronograph models, including the aforementioned Revival Shadow’s El Primero 4061.
Beating at Zenith’s high-beat signature 5Hz (36,000VpH), the watch can track chronograph readings accurate to the nearest tenth of a second. Bolstered by a 50-hour power reserve, the movement is visible through the caseback, accompanied by a line-art illustration of Jigen himself—an appropriate detail that remains unobtrusive to the overall design.
My Thoughts
I remember, as a kid and early teenager, making fun of people who watched anime and read manga. Granted, I was one of them — but still, the general consensus back then was that anyone with an interest in ‘Japanese cartoon characters’ was considered a social pariah. Today, that’s no longer the case. Those same kids, who grew up being told anime and manga were a waste of time, have become part of the very successful crowd that once dismissed them. From Megan Fox to Israel Adesanya, the Japanese art form has become so pervasive in pop culture that, nowadays, the hype trains are often overloaded.
I ended up changing my tune on it very quickly, I must admit. While I don’t really have time to watch much anime or read much manga anymore, it was an integral part of my childhood — and one I love seeing reflected in the adult landscape. That said, with fans maturing and collectibles becoming more expensive, I think an anime collaboration watch is a smart idea.
Gone are the days of overinvesting in body pillows like a weeaboo; Zenith’s new Chronomaster Revival gives both the anime/manga and watch worlds something to appreciate together. And even when the fanbases are mutually exclusive, as someone who’s into both, I can tell you: the nerding out is almost exactly the same in each.
Reference: 97.L384.400/04.M384
Specifications:
- Dimensions: 37mm case diameter x 46mm lug-to-lug x 12.8mm thickness
- Case Material: Sandblasted grade 2 titanium
- Dial: Beige with black accents
- Movement: Automatic Cal. El Primero 400 with date & chronograph (30min, 12h registers) complications
- Power Reserve: 50h
- Beat Rate: 5Hz (36,000 VpH)
- Water Resistance: 50m (50 Bar)
- Strap: Titanium ladder bracelet with folding clasp