For pretty much any watch fan the unveiling of the new Chronomaster Sport completes a 50-year-plus story arc. Steeped in Zenith’s long history with the El Primero, the sporty-chic automatic chronograph offers the full house of historical legitimacy, icon-inspired design chops and industry-leading high-frequency precision.
Despite a complete overhaul, the new Chronomaster Sport seems satisfyingly familiar. The modern interpretation of this elite-level chronograph has embraced hallmarks from the collections designs from the ’80s, ’90s and, naturally, from the original launch in 1969.
“For us the new Chronomaster Sport is more than just a launch, it is a repositioning of a historical product line that has been so historical for the brand since the late 1960s,” explains Zenith CEO Julien Tornare. “It is a collection that represents both the past and the present of the brand.”
The new Chronomaster uses a new iteration of the El Primero, the caliber 3600, one which is simpler and upgrades performance, allowing for timing to a tenth of a second. That means the central second hand actually completes a lap of the dial in 10 seconds, which explains the unconventional markings in the black ceramic bezel and also makes for a neat party trick when showing off the watch.
Design wise, the new Chronomaster Sport is again set apart from its predecessors. Crafted in a sleek and robust steel case measuring 41mm wide with pump-style pushers, the polished black ceramic bezel gives it a striking modern aesthetic and a contrast that helps offer exceptional legibility on the periphery of the dial. Little touches, such as the triple overlapping sub dials, allow for them to be bigger to suit the larger scale of modern watches, too.
Available in two references – white dial and black dial – both feature the signature El Primero tri-color chronograph registers in blue, anthracite and light grey, just like the A386 calibre from 1969.
Pretty much every watch fan loves a story, and in terms of the new Chronomaster Sport, it’s difficult to overlook this watch for anyone seeking an exceptional modern automatic chronograph from a storied manufacturer.
For more visit zenith-watches.com
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