Rebirth of a legend: Zenith’s Chronomaster Sport

Zenith, one of LVMH's prestigious watchmaking brands, has launched a spectacular new range of watches under its iconic Chronomaster line; the Chronomaster Sport collection.

The collection, unveiled during LVMH Watch Week at the end of January, marks the beginning of a new era for the quintessential Zenith chronograph which will see the range push the boundaries of high-frequency precision. The Chronomaster Sport takes influence from Zenith's older models, combining the spirit of the El Primero A386, the form of the Chronomaster De Luca and the high-frequency performance established by the El Primero calibre for over 50 years in a sporty chronograph like no other.

Zenith has built on the foundation of the El Primero caliber with a marked increase in performance directly perceptible by the user. The new El Primero 3600 calibre offers even more performance and precision than its forebearer, with its ultra-readable 1/10th of a second display etched directly on its black ceramic bezel – the only watch to do so.

A descendant of the Chronomaster lineage through and through, the unique heritage of this emblematic chronograph line unfolds with a more refined dial, an integrated steel bracelet with optimized comfort, enhanced finishing details, an ever more accurate search for proportions and an extremely precise tenth of a second reading.

Crafted in a sleek and robust steel case measuring 41 mm wide with pump-style pushers, the polished black ceramic bezel sets the new Chronomaster Sport apart from its predecessors. Graduated over 10 seconds, its bold contrast offers exceptional legibility on the periphery of the dial.

The Chronomaster Sport comes in two references. Whether the black or white dial, both feature the signature El Primero tri-color chronograph registers in blue, anthracite and light grey, just like the A386 from 1969. Each of the counters is graduated to 60 for an intuitive and instantaneous reading of the chronograph.

Befitting the modern yet timeless aesthetic of this exceptional chronograph, the Chronomaster Sport comes on an integrated steel bracelet similar to those conceived by Gay Frères, who supplied many of Zenith’s metal bracelets in the past. A textured cordura-effect rubber strap option with a steel deployant buckle is also available.

Always in the pursuit of improvement, the Chronomaster Sport line is equipped with a new version of the Manufacture’s most renowned movement, dubbed the El Primero 3600 calibre. With the experience gained after over five decades of the El Primero and high-frequency chronographs in general, Zenith is able to precisely offer a 1/10th of second display from the 5 Hz (36’000 VpH) escapement, as well as an extended power reserve of 60 hours. Visible through the sapphire display back, the new architecture is strikingly evident, revealing a blue column wheel and open rotor marked with the five-pointed star Zenith.

The Chronomaster Sport asserts itself as a sporty companion for all of life’s moments where even a fraction of a second is an instance of performance.