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Zenith Chronomaster Sport – Activate Lightning Mode
You’ve got the black bezel from both the A277 Pre-El Primero Chronograph and the legendary El Primero Rainbow, though, this unit is now rendered in decidedly modern ceramic and engraved with a very unique 10 second scale, with exactly 100 distinct hash marks, more on this later.
You have the polished and satin finish bracelet from the Zenith De Luca. But most distinct is the incredible 1/10th of a second display that comes from Zenith’s Striking 1/10th a model that was introduced a decade ago but was dropped from the Zenith line up, before current CEO Julien Tornare joined the company.
Says Tornare, “This display creates what I like to think of as a super chronograph that perfectly highlights our status as the master of precision time keeping. The Zenith El Primero has been the only chronograph movement for over half a century is capable of diving time to 1/10th of a second. The new Chronomaster Sport showcases this in an incredibly dynamic way.”
The case is really well executed in that it feels great when you wear it and is certainly ergonomic. The large visible bevels bring the stirrings of excitement, the ceramic bezel is definitely welcome and the vintage pump style chrono pusher add a bit of retro modern appeal. But then you push the chronograph start button and that’s when the “Oh Shit!” movement happens.
Because all of sudden the chronograph seconds hand leaps into action and starts to rotate around the dial at a dizzying pace. This is the equivalent of that day at the beach when the girl next door kicks off her Havianas, un-scrunchies her hair, slips off her cut offs and tosses her Wu Tang t-shirt on the sand and you realize you’ve been living next to a super model the whole time.
The counter at 3 o’clock is the elapsed chronograph seconds and advances 10 seconds with each central second hand revolution of the dial. The counter at 6 o’clock is the chronograph minutes, which is calibrated to 60 minutes. And the counter at 9 o’clock is calibrated to 60 seconds and is the continuous seconds counter. This is one of the most intuitive and straight forward ways of reading and measuring time.
One other thing I like about the Chronomaster Sport is that represents a very strong value proposition. Tornare who was educated at the school of Jean-Claude Biver, believes in one of the core ethos perpetuated by the great man, and that is a watch should overdeliver in its perceived value. Priced at CHF 9,900 on a steel bracelet or CHF 9,400 on a strap — I would advise to just go for the bracelet at that small supplement, the 2021 Zenith Chronomaster Sport is the SAME price as the Striking 1/10th when that watch was launched a full decade ago. And the new watch has seriously upped the quality game with touches like the ceramic bezel.
feel that this watch should be accompanied by a theme song like ACDC’s Thunderstruck or Judas Priest’s Lighting Strike, whenever the start button is activated. Says Tornare, “I like how you call this lighting mode. Of course, we also have our super foudroyante watch at Zenith which is the El Primero 21, a timepiece where the central chrono hand adopts 100 positions every second but I like to think that the Chronomaster Sport sits just below this in its time measuring abilities. At Zenith we have the best traditional chronographs, we now have the Chronomaster Sport with the 10 second, 1/10th of a second display and the El Primero 21. I think I can say as a brand known for measuring time, our offer is very complete.” As usual, Tornare is right.
Black Dial – Reference: 03.3100.3600/21.M3100
Price: CHF 9,900 (metal bracelet) & CHF 9,400 (Cordura effect bracelet)
White Dial – Reference: 03.3100.3600/69.M3100
Price: CHF 9,900 (metal bracelet) & CHF 9,400 (Cordura effect bracelet)
Movement
El Primero 3600 automatic; 36000 VpH (5 Hz); hours and minutes in the centre; small seconds at 9 o’clock, 1/10th of a second chronograph: central chronograph hand that makes one turn in 10 seconds, 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock, 60-second counter at 3 o’clock; 60-hour power reserve
Case & Dial
41mm stainless steel with black ceramic bezel; black matte dial with three different applied coloured counters; hour markers: rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN C1; black or white matte dial with three different applied coloured countershands: rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN C1; water-resistant to 100m
Bracelet & Buckle
Available on metal bracelet or black rubber bracelet with Cordura” effect; double folding clasp with security mechanism[/td_block_text_with_title]