THE HOME OF WATCH CULTURE

WATCHES & WONDERS – Zenith maintain their momentum with a bumper crop of new releases WATCHES & WONDERS – Zenith maintain their momentum with a bumper crop of new releases

WATCHES & WONDERS – Zenith maintain their momentum with a bumper crop of new releases

D.C. Hannay

Editor’s Note: Watches & Wonders is the biggest watch fair of the year, and, with nearly 40 brands presenting, there is a ton of ground to cover. So, for your convenience, we’re offering a quick overview of each brand’s new novelties – touching on each new reference or collection and their headlining points. Stay tuned throughout the week for deeper coverage, some of which will include videos, live pics, and our hands-on perspective. But for now let’s run through each of the new watches – here are the Zenith 2022 novelties of Watches & Wonders .

There’s plenty of excitement around  Watches & Wonders and Zenith is bringing out the big guns this year. Their Daytona-killing Chronomaster Sport lineup is introducing some bold new variations that are bound to make waves, and the new Chronomaster Open looks to gain new fans by losing something: Namely, a couple millimetres from its case diameter. Let’s hit it.

Zenith Chronomaster Sport

When the Chronomaster Sport was released at the beginning of 2021, it was an instant smash, waiting lists and all. We got pretty excited as you can read here.

Because finally, there was legitimate competition to the hype train juggernaut that is the Rolex Daytona. Even if you had to wait a short while, your chances of getting one were infinitely better, and flex bragging rights aside, the Zenith is every bit the equal of the unobtanium that is the Daytona. Honestly, the comparisons were a bit unfair, especially after being hands-on with the Chronomaster Sport. Besides, Zenith never used a Rolex chrono movement in one of their watches, if you catch my drift. And frankly, I’m just a sucker for that iconic Zenith tricoloured subdial look. All that was missing were Rolex’s precious metal options, now sorted with Zenith’s 2022 W&W releases. Specs for the new models are largely the same as the initial steel releases: 41mm case, El Primero 3600 movement that measures blazing 1/10 second increments, a 60-hour power reserve, and those divine grey, anthracite, and blue subdials.

Moving up through the new releases by price point, we start with the ubercool Boutique Edition, featuring a tricoloured ceramic bezel (a true technical feat), matched to the grey, anthracite, and blue subdials by position. All of it pops perfectly against the silver sunray dial, and the entire effect is striking. 

Next up, if you thought that two-tone watches were strictly the domain of junior attorneys from the ‘80s, boy are you wrong. Two-tone timepieces are back in a big way, and this one rocks with total hardness. Rose gold adorns the handset, indices, bezel, crown, pushers, and the bracelet’s polished centre links. The silver sunray dial sets everything off perfectly, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the sleeper hit of the lineup.

Finally, the killer app the Chronomaster Sport range needed has arrived: The full gold version, in your choice of black lacquered or matte white dial. Nothing says baller like a solid rose gold Swiss chrono, and I wouldn’t wait too long to put your name on the AD’s waiting list, because this release can be described in a single word: hot!

Zenith Chronomaster Sport pricing and availability:

zenith chronomaster sport open

The new Chronomaster Sport models are available now. Prices: Boutique Edition CHF11,900, Two-Tone CHF16,900, Rose Gold CHF37,900

Brand Zenith
Model Chronomaster Sport Boutique Edition (03.3103.3600/69.M3100)
Chronomaster Sport Two-Tone (51.3100.3600/69.M3100)
Chronomaster Sport Rose Gold black dial (18.3101.3600/21.M3100)
Chronomaster Sport Rose Gold white dial (18.3101.3600/69.M3100)
Case Dimensions 41mm
Water Resistance 100 metres
Case Material Stainless steel
Dial Silver sunburst with tri-colour subdials (03.3103.3600/69.M3100)
Silver sunburst with tri-colour subdials (51.3100.3600/69.M3100)
Lacquered black with tri-colour subdials (18.3101.3600/21.M3100)
Matte white with tri-colour subdials (18.3101.3600/69.M3100)
Strap Stainless steel (03.3103.3600/69.M3100)
Stainless steel and rose gold (51.3100.3600/69.M3100)
Rose gold (18.3101.3600/21.M3100 and 18.3101.3600/69.M3100)
Movement El Primero 3600 automatic, 60-hour power reserve
Price CHF11,900 (03.3103.3600/69.M3100)
CHF16,900 (51.3100.3600/69.M3100)
CHF37,900 (18.3101.3600/21.M3100 and 18.3101.3600/69.M3100)

 

Zenith Chronomaster Open

zenith chronomaster sport open

If you’re fascinated with what makes a watch tick, so to speak, an open-heart dial is a great way to go, and for Zenith’s other big release, we’re getting a newly redesigned Chronomaster Open, with the El Primero movement’s beating heart on display. Zenith has wisely downsized the case from 42mm to 39.5mm, making for an eminently more wearable timepiece for the majority of buyers. Inside you’ll find the El Primero 3604, a modified version of the 3600 that debuted in the Chronomaster Sport, which also features the 1/10th second chrono hand racing around the dial once every 10 seconds. The other big difference from the previous Open is the addition of the subdial at 9 that reveals the silicon star-shaped escape wheel. The subdial is made from transparent hesalite, so as not to obscure the movement parts, but adds the small seconds counter missing from the original. A smart decision, if you ask me, and the 3 and 6 o’clock subdials keep their iconic blue and anthracite colours. The 60-hour El Primero movement is on display around back as well, with Zenith’s signature open star-shaped oscillating weight visible behind the sapphire caseback. 

zenith chronomaster sport open

Options are as follows: Stainless case and bracelet with black or silver matte dial, or a stunning Rose Gold version, resplendent on a blue calf strap with rose gold triple-folding deployant clasp. Matching gold pushers, crown, hands, and indices complete the package. No matter what you pick, they’re all objectively gorgeous, so there’s really no wrong choice: It’s all down to personal taste. Bottom line: The new Chronomaster Open range is a step up both wearability and utility, and improves on an already fantastic view of the legendary El Primero movement.

Zenith Chronomaster Open pricing and availability:

The Chronomaster Open models are available now. Prices: CHF9,900 (stainless steel), CHF19,900 (rose gold)

zenith chronomaster sport open

 

Brand Zenith
Model Chronomster Open black dial (03.3300.3604/21.M3300)
Chronomaster Open silver dial (03.3300.3604/69.M3300)
Chronomaster Open rose gold (18.3300.3604/69.C922)
Case Dimensions 39.5mm
Water Resistance 100 metres
Case Material Stainless steel (03.3300.3604/21.M3300 and 03.3300.3604/69.M3300)
18ct rose gold (18.3300.3604/69.C922)
Dial Coloured dials with bi-colour subdials and translucent polymer opening
Strap Stainless steel (03.3300.3604/21.M3300 and 03.3300.3604/69.M3300)
Blue calfskin with solid gold clasp (18.3300.3604/69.C922)
Movement El Primero 3604 automatic, 60-hour power reserve
Price CHF9,900 (03.3300.3604/21.M3300 and 03.3300.3604/69.M3300)
CHF19,900 (18.3300.3604/69.C922)