The Zenith Blue Ceramic 160th Anniversary Trilogy

As the winner of the race to produce the world’s first integrated automatic chronograph movement in 1969, Zenith is synonymous with chronographs. Beating at a high frequency, the El Primero automatic chronograph movement set a new benchmark for precision and reliability. In light of the brand’s 160^th anniversary, Zenith unveils three high-frequency chronographs – Chronomaster Sport, Defy Skyline Chronograph and Pilot Chronograph –  in bright blue ceramic cases, a signature colour of the brand. Available in limited editions of 160 pieces each, they can also be acquired as a set in a special anniversary box.

Ceramic has many positive qualities; it is durable, lightweight, silky smooth to the touch and highly resilient to scratches. However, creating coloured ceramic is another story, given the difficulty in producing a uniform tone. Flaunting bright blue ceramic, the three anniversary models are powered by high-frequency automatic El Primero movements capable of displaying 1/10^th of a second chronograph readings and customised 160th-anniversary rotors.

Chronomaster Sport

Revisited in 2021 with a sportier design, the Chronomaster features pump-style pushers and faceted lugs derived from its 1969 ancestor, the A386. Dressed in blue ceramic, the 41mm case and bracelet of the Chronomaster feature alternating brushed and polished finishes. The signature bezel with its 1/10^th of a second graduation is now crafted from blue polished ceramic with contrasting white markings.

The blue dial hosts the tri-coloured snailed sub-dials with the two chronograph counters indicated by red-tipped hands matching the central chronograph seconds hand. The applied indices and hands are treated with Super-LumiNova, and like the other two anniversary watches, the rotor features a 160^th-anniversary logo.

Also powered by the El Primero 3600, the high-frequency chronograph delivers 1/10^th of a second readings as the central chronograph seconds hand whizzes around the dial in just 10 seconds. The Chronomaster Sport has a blue ceramic bracelet and folding clasp and comes with an additional blue rubber strap.

Quick facts: 41mm x 13.6mm x 47mm lug-to-lug – blue ceramic case and bracelet, brushed and polished – 1/10^th of a second scale scale on blue ceramic bezel – 100m water-resistance – blue dial, applied indices and hands with SLN – 3 snailed tri-coloured sub-dials – red-tipped 60-minute and 60-second chronograph hands and central chronograph seconds hand – date window at 4:30 – El Primero 3600, in-house automatic high-frequency column-wheel chronograph – 36,000vph – 60h power reserve – ref. 49.3102.3600/51.M3100 –  blue ceramic bracelet and extra blue strap – limited edition of 160 pieces – CHF 21,900 / EUR 23,700 / USD 22,700

Defy Skyline Chronograph

A contemporary successor to the 1969 Defy, the Defy Skyline Chronograph, with its octagonal case and faceted dodecagonal bezel, debuted in 2024. Decked out in blue ceramic from head to toe, the 42mm case and bracelet are brushed with polished bevels.

Matching the bright blue ceramic, the dial is blue and composed of four-pointed stars with three slightly overlapping snailed sub-dials. The 12-sided flange hosts the 1/10^th of a second scale for the central chronograph hand with its star-shaped counterweight and red tip, matching the tips of the hands in the two chronograph sub-dials. The large, applied indices and hands are treated with Super-LumiNova, and there is a date window at 4:30 with a blue background.

Powered by the El Primero calibre 3600 with a high frequency of 5Hz, the star-shaped rotor sends energy to the barrel for a 60-hour power reserve. A stop-seconds mechanism allows accurate time setting. A quick-change system integrated into the case allows you to exchange the ceramic bracelet for the blue star-patterned rubber strap in a jiffy.

Quick facts: 42mm x 12.7mm x 47.4mm lug-to-lug – blue ceramic case and bracelet, brushed and polished – 100m water-resistance – blue dial with star pattern, applied indices and hands with SLN  – 3 snailed sub-dials – red-tipped 60-minute and 60-second chronograph hands and central chronograph seconds hand – 1/10^th of a second scale on flange – date window at 4:30 – El Primero 3600, in-house automatic high-frequency column-wheel chronograph – 36,000vph – 60h power reserve – ref. 49.9502.3600/51.I001 – interchangeable blue ceramic bracelet with double folding clasp and extra blue strap – limited edition of 160 pieces – CHF 22,900 / EUR 24,800 / USD 23,800

Pilot Big Date Flyback

Introduced in 2023, the Pilot Big Date Flyback marked a radical change in the flight path of Zenith’s pilot’s watches. Abandoning the vintage personality of earlier pilot watches, the Big Date Flyback has a decidedly contemporary spirit and is powered by an evolution of Zenith’s legendary El Primero calibre. The 42.5mm blue ceramic case has a thickness of 14.25mm, retains its 100m water-resistance and has a smooth microblasted finish. The crown and rectangular pushers are crafted from titanium.

The dual-register chronograph, with a slightly recessed 30-minute counter at 3 and running seconds at 9 o’clock, is complemented by a hyper-legible instantaneous big date at 6 o’clock. Thanks to a patented mechanism, the date changes in just 0.007 seconds. Decorated with signature horizontal grooves, legibility is ensured with the Super-LumiNova applied to the white hands and large white Arabic numerals.

Powered by the El Primero 3652 automatic 5Hz chronograph,  with a pilot-friendly flyback function and a 60-hour power reserve, the movement can be seen through the caseback with its customised 160^th-anniversary rotor. The watch comes with two rubber straps with a Cordura effect, a triple-folding steel clasp and an interchangeable strap system.

Quick facts: 41mm x 14.25mm x 52mm lug-to-lug – blue ceramic case, microblasted – titanium crown and pushers – 100m water-resistance – blue dial with horizontal grooves, applied Arabic numerals and hands with SLN – instantaneous big date window at 6 o’clock, 30-min totaliser at 3 and small seconds at 9 o’clock – El Primero 3652, in-house automatic high-frequency column-wheel chronograph with flyback function and patented big date – 36,000vph – 60h power reserve –  – ref. 49.4002.3652/51.I009 – blue rubber and white rubber straps with triple-folding steel clasp and interchangeable strap system – limited edition of 160 pieces – CHF 15,400 / EUR 16,500 / USD 15,500

For more details, please visit zenith-watches.com.