Today's offering showcases this new-old-stock RXW Zeromaster by Ken Sato, an exceptionally well-preserved example of one of his most distinctive vintage-inspired creations.

While we hardly ever sell homage watches, we have developed a soft spot for Sato's because of their very high quality construction, design, and appeal.

For those not familiar, the Zeromaster draws its strongest inspiration from the extraordinarily scarce Rolex Zerograph ref. 3346, one of the most elusive early Rolex sports watches. Its oversized rotating bezel, dramatic mixed Roman and Arabic dial, luminous hands, and unmistakable instrumental quality provided Sato with a fitting starting point.

But he did more than recreate its appearance. His Zeromaster transforms that vocabulary into a true GMT watch, pairing an independently adjustable 24-hour hand with a rotating 24-hour bezel. What began as an homage became a watch with a different complication, different functionality, and a personality sufficiently distinct to stand on its own.

Ken Sato's RXW Zeromaster occupies an unusual and increasingly interesting place in modern watch collecting. Its design is rooted in one of the great obscurities of vintage Rolex, yet its appeal today no longer depends solely upon the watch that inspired it. RXW has acquired a cult following of its own, and Sato's best creations have become collectible artifacts from an era when a deeply knowledgeable collector could take an almost unobtainable vintage design and reinterpret it for fellow collectors with real mechanical substance and an evident respect for the original.

Sato approached watches from the perspective of a vintage collector and dealer, and that background is essential to understanding RXW, Pro-Lex and his other brands. His watches were not generic exercises in retro styling. They were informed by the details that make particular vintage watches compelling in the first place: proportions, typography, crystal profiles, bezel treatments, dial layouts, case shapes, and the subtle visual tension that can make an old tool watch feel unlike anything designed from a blank sheet of paper. He understood the source material because he was immersed in it.

That is also where a thoughtfully executed homage separates itself completely from a fake or counterfeit. A counterfeit succeeds only to the extent that it can be mistaken for something it is not. A legitimate homage makes no such claim. It openly carries its maker's identity while preserving, interpreting, or celebrating elements of a historically important design. The quality of the idea then has to be matched by the quality of the watch itself.

RXW took that responsibility seriously. The Zeromaster is openly signed as an RXW and was constructed as a substantial mechanical watch, with a Swiss ETA 2893-2 automatic GMT movement, 316L stainless steel case, domed acrylic crystal, screw-down crown, and an anti-magnetic inner structure designed to protect the movement to 1,000 Gauss. These were not merely visual reproductions intended to resemble vintage watches from across a room. Sato built watches for enthusiasts who would notice how they were made.

That combination has given his work a second life. What was originally purchased as a very small run specialist homage has, with the passage of more than two decades, become a collectible object from its own period, long before today's industry-wide fascination with archival reissues and heritage models.

The Zeromaster is particularly effective because the design it evokes remains effectively inaccessible to almost everyone. An authentic Zerograph is not simply a six-figure watch. It is so rare that even the financial means to acquire one does not guarantee the opportunity. For most collectors, experiencing that extraordinary dial and bezel concept through an original example is simply unrealistic.

The RXW offers another path. It captures much of what makes that almost mythical vintage design so fascinating while providing a robust Swiss automatic GMT movement and a watch that can actually be owned, worn, serviced, and enjoyed without the financial commitment or extraordinary hunt required for the Rolex. It is an affordable route into the aesthetic experience, but importantly, it does not ask its owner to pretend that it is the original. Its identity as a Ken Sato RXW has become part of the appeal.

Our extremely rare time capsule example is in true new-old-stock, retaining its original protective stickers on both the case back and buckle. The black dial remains exceptionally fresh.

A Master Watchmaker has performed any needed servicing.

It is running extremely strong and true, keeping very accurate time.

Included with the purchase is a one-year C.O.T. international warranty on the movement and its function, a full-page custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity, and a new timing certificate.

Here is a link to an interesting article on the Rolex Zerograph.

For a collector, then, the Zeromaster offers something more interesting than a substitute for a watch one cannot buy. It is a well-conceived homage to one of vintage Rolex's great rarities, a capable mechanical GMT, and now a collectible piece of enthusiast watchmaking history in its own right. Finding a NOS still wearing its original protective stickers, makes this an rare opportunity to acquire Sato's work exactly as it left the era that produced it.

Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. As mentioned, one used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.

Country of origin: Switzerland / Japan
Maker: R.X.W.
Model: Zeromaster Anti-Magnetic UTC / GMT
Year built: c. early 2000's
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Sweep Seconds Date, Independently adjustable 24-hour UTC/GMT hand, and Rotating 24-hour bezel for additional time-zone tracking.
Designed for: Men
Case material: 316L stainless steel with soft-iron anti-magnetic inner components
Case condition: New Old Stock. It retains the original protective sticker on the case back and presents in exceptionally well-preserved, unworn condition
Dimensions: Approx. 39.5mm diameter (excluding crown), 46.5mm lug tip to lug tip, approx. 14mm thick; 20mm between lugs
Dial: High-gloss black California-style dial with Roman numerals across the upper half, Arabic numerals across the lower half, luminous hour markers, outer minute track, red accents, and date aperture at 6, New Old Stock condition
Hands: Luminous Mercedes-style hour hand, luminous minute hand, sweep seconds, and red independently adjustable 24-hour arrow hand with luminous tip
Movement type: Swiss ETA cal. 2893-2 automatic GMT movement, 21 jewels, 28,800 beats per hour, with independently adjustable 24-hour hand and quick-set date; protected by soft-iron anti-magnetic components.
Jewels: 21 rubies
Band: Original brown crocodile-pattern leather strap with original butterflybuckle. The buckle retains its original protective sticker. We also stock lizard and a variety of other straps in various prints, skins, and colors. Please ask us if you're interested.
Width between lugs: 20mm
Crystal: Domed acrylic crystal, New Old Stock condition
Servicing: A Master Watchmaker has performed any needed servicing.
Timing: Timed to precision on a state-of-the-art computerized system.  It is running extremely strong and true, keeping very accurate time.
Warranty: 1-year C.O.T. international warranty. Your watch is important to us, and we will take care of it for its lifetime. We provide the best after sale care in the business with an extremely experienced team of four Master Watchmakers all of whom each have over thirty-five years of experience and a large number of parts. One used to be the watchmaker for an authorized Rolex dealership and was given training by Rolex at their Beverly Hills Service Center.
Box/Papers: BOX - Connoisseur of Time watch presentation box; PAPERS - Custom printed Connoisseur of Time Certificate of Authenticity; New timing certificate
Returns: 7 days full refund. 100% satisfaction guarantee

We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee for all of our watches. If you are in any way unsatisfied with the watch we will fully refund the purchase price anytime within 7 days after the watch has been received. Our goal is to exceed our client's expectations throughout the buying experience.

All watches are packaged carefully and mailed double boxed in specially constructed, reinforced shipping boxes designed for high value items. All watches are sent fully insured with signature required. Most of our domestic shipping is done through FedEx. At times we will also use USPS Express Mail, and we can accommodate most requests for your preferred carrier. International shipments are sent USPS International Express Mail or FedEx.

The purchase price will be the declared value of the merchandise on any required customs forms. The payment of all customs duties, tariffs, and taxes are the responsibility of the buyer.

Also note that water resistance of vintage watches can no longer be guaranteed and is not covered under the watch's warranty. We do not recommend getting a vintage watch wet, even one that was originally designed to be waterproof.

To get an idea of how this watch will look on the wrist, please use the Watch Sizing Guide

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