The Rolex Daytona’s Closest Rival Levels Up with a Game-Changing Feature

Zenith’s Chronomaster Sport doesn’t have the hype or name recognition of other auto racing chronographs like the Daytona, Speedmaster or Monaco, but those in the know recognize it as the most mechanically impressive watch in its field.

So impressive, in fact, that the watch’s movement often overshadows the collection it’s placed in. The El Primero family of chronograph movements is one of the few recognized by name, thanks to excellent branding and even better performance.

Zenith

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The El Primero was one of the first automatic chronograph movements ever created, and has remained the gold standard for high-beat mechanical timing since its 1969 debut.

While Zenith is no stranger to skeletonized dials, the new Chronomaster Sport Skeleton marks the first time that the brand’s bestselling watch has put its legendary movement on display through the dial.

Zenith

A glossy ceramic bezel, available in green or black, is marked with the characteristic fully graduated 10-second scale because that’s how long it takes the high-beat chronograph seconds hand to complete a full pass. It frames a smoked sapphire dial plate revealing the skeletonized dial below.

Zenith’s trademark overlapping subdials consist of three metallic rings, each with a transparent center, fixed to the sapphire dial. All three are marked with scales of 60, tracking elapsed seconds at 3:00, elapsed minutes at 6:00 and running seconds at 9:00.

Zenith

The subdials are presented in three tones of gray with the green bezel and on the gold case with a black bezel, while appearing in the classic blue, silver and gray trio with the black bezel reference.

Pursuing the perfect fit

Visually, the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton simply adds a new look to the already robust collection, giving a peek at the mechanical symphony playing out below the dial.

However, a new feature quietly debuting on the bracelet significantly changes how the watch feels on the wrist and elevates it into a higher echelon.

Zenith

Zenith’s new folding clasp features a microadjustment system that took three years to develop. It is set in 2.5mm increments over a range of 10mm without tools, and can be done so while on the wrist.

The system is operated by lifting the polished center portion of the clasp from the rear, which allows the extension to slide. When the section is snapped back into place, the bracelet is resized. After a couple of tries, I was able to operate it in just a few seconds, as timed by the chronograph itself.

In addition to the ingenious microadjust, there’s also a new ceramic-ball-operated safety clasp that sits perfectly flush and feels incredibly secure yet is buttery smooth to operate.

Zenith

In addition to a three-link steel bracelet equipped with the new clasp system, both steel references come with an additional rubber strap with a steel deployant clasp. The green bezel is matched with a green strap, and the black bezel with a black strap.

Availability and pricing

Zenith has retained its place at the cutting edge of mechanical watch design for decades, and with this new Chronomaster Sport, that applies to clasps as much as to movements.

The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Skeleton is available now from Zenith for $16,700 in steel and $31,500 with a solid rose gold case.

Zenith

Zenith Chronomaster Sport Skeleton

Specs

Case Size	41mm
Movement	Zenith Caliber Primero 3600 SK automatic chronograph
Water Resistance	100m

• $16,700 at Zenith

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