Zenith Chronomaster Sport 41mm Black Dial

When this model made its debut in 2021, it strongly polarised not only enthusiasts of the brand but watch lovers in general. “Zenith's Daytona” and “a disgrace to the century-old brand” were met with comments such as “the better Rolex” and “the Foundation had better watch out” – these were just some of the reactions in the numerous analyses of the model. One thing, however, is certain – this watch did not go unnoticed, and the manufacturer and its marketing team achieved their goal. The Chronomaster Sport quickly became one of the brand's most discussed and desirable modern chronographs. Despite all this controversy, in our opinion, it certainly possesses everything necessary to become a classic for several important reasons. First, because it carries the traditions of Zenith – that is beyond doubt. Classically clean lines, a unique movement and a distinguished combination of several colours characteristic of Zenith – black, silver and grey, complemented by the signature blue accents – make this watch a true ambassador of the famous brand. Second, the name – inevitably, a watch from this manufacturer housing the legendary “El Primero” movement automatically becomes desirable among collectors and Zenith enthusiasts. Third, the size – at 41 mm, it represents one of the most suitable contemporary dimensions for a sporty yet elegant watch – neither too large nor too small. And last but not least, everything the brand has done to make this watch comfortable for everyday use – 100 metres of water resistance, a stainless steel bracelet and a folding clasp with a safety mechanism that is both easy to operate and secure in keeping the watch on your wrist. A stainless steel case measuring 41 mm in diameter, a three-link bracelet with polished centre links and a substantial folding clasp for greater comfort. An elegant fixed ceramic bezel – one of the most distinctive features of this model – featuring a graduated scale for reading tenths of a second. A black dial with luminous silver-coloured hands and hour markers, complemented by Zenith's three iconic coloured subdials in blue, anthracite grey and light grey. The inner flange features minute markers, while the date window is positioned at 4:30. The chronograph has an unusual but exceptionally interesting configuration – a central chronograph hand that completes one full revolution in just 10 seconds, allowing measurements to 1/10th of a second, a 60-second counter at 3 o'clock and a 60-minute counter at 6 o'clock. The small seconds display for the running time is positioned at 9 o'clock. The hour markers and hands are rhodium-plated, faceted and feature Super-LumiNova SLN C1 inserts. The transparent sapphire crystal caseback allows us to admire the movement at work, and it truly demonstrates impressive attention to detail – rhodium-plated components, beautifully finished bridges, a blue column wheel and a skeletonised rotor decorated with the distinctive five-pointed star from Zenith's logo. Particularly impressive is the fact that all this mechanical sophistication operates at a frequency of 5 Hz, giving the chronograph hand a truly captivating movement. The watch is equally suitable for everyday wear with smart-casual clothing or with a formal suit, while its 100-metre water resistance allows for bathing and swimming when the manufacturer's guidelines are followed. Thanks to its relatively compact proportions, comfortable metal bracelet and excellent legibility, the Chronomaster Sport is one of those watches that can easily be worn every day without compromising on fine watchmaking. Beneath the aristocratic black dial lies the brand's famous in-house El Primero movement, in this particular case the El Primero 3600 – an automatic column-wheel chronograph with 35 jewels, a power reserve of approximately 60 hours and an operating frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour (or 5 Hz). This is the modern evolution of the legendary El Primero from 1969, with its most significant improvement being the ability to directly measure and display 1/10th of a second using the central chronograph hand. The movement consists of 311 components and features a stop-seconds function for precise time setting, while its increased power reserve and modernised construction make it one of the most interesting high-frequency automatic chronographs on the contemporary market.