The New Full-Steel & Blue Dial Zenith Chronomaster Sport (Incl. Video)

The Zenith Chronomaster has spawned numerous versions and generations since it was originally presented at the 1994 Basel watch fair. In 2021, the brand unveiled what’s probably its most successful watch in years, a sporty chronograph with a modern look, yet full of references to the vintage El Primero watches. This was the Zenith Chronomaster Sport. At first, it came equipped with a white or black dial with tricolour counters and a black polished ceramic bezel, home to a 1/10th of a second scale. For the 2023 collection, the Zenith Chronomaster Sport now comes equipped with a polished steel bezel, matched with an unprecedented metallic blue dial, a style that is also seen in the Chronomaster Sport Pink to support the fight against breast cancer. In the video on top of this article, we’re talking with Sébastien Golbert, creative director of Zenith Watches, who will tell us all there’s to know about the new full-steel Zenith Chronomaster Sport Blue.

The Zenith Chronomaster Sport, a watch named after one of the most successful collections of the brand, was born in 2021 with the wish to offer a modern, sporty chronograph, edgier and more powerful than the classic Chronomaster Original. Equipped with a thoroughly revised version of the emblematic El Primero automatic chronograph calibre, it was first presented on steel with a black or white dial, fitted with classic tricolour sub-counters and a black ceramic bezel. A true success that opened the door to more editions, first with a gold-on-strap version. In 2022, Zenith presented some evolutions of the Chronomaster Sport, whether in a boutique edition with a tricolour ceramic bezel, in two-tone or in full gold. And now, it’s time for full-steel versions; one with a pink dial for a charitable cause, the other one, with a new dial colour, as part of the permanent collection. Meet the Zenith Chronomaster Sport with polished steel bezel and metallic blue dial.

Even though it first launched with a ceramic bezel, the idea of a steel bezel on the Zenith Chronomaster Sport has always been part of the plan. While the two first and now well-established steel/ceramic versions brought a contemporary, bold and sporty look to the table, the steel bezel changes quite substantially the aspect of this watch. Still housed in a 41mm steel case, with alternating brushed and polished surfaces, the Chronomaster Sport is a highly pleasant watch on the wrist, with great proportions for such a sports chronograph. The 47mm lug-to-lug combines presence with comfort and the 13.6mm thickness, if not the thinnest on the market, remains perfectly manageable.

As said, the first and most important evolution here is the new material used for the bezel, moving from modern ceramic to traditional steel. Entirely polished, with an engraved and black-filled 1/10th of a second scale (a signature of the watch, and the result of a new movement), it brings some vintage 1980s and 1990s vibes. Lighter, more classic, and a bit less elegant, this new bezel changes the look of the watch on the wrist… Just don’t be afraid of scratches. The rest of the case remains identical to all other Chronomaster Sport watches, with classic pump-style pushers, sapphire crystals on both sides and a comfortable 100m water resistance.

To make this full-steel Zenith Chronomaster Sport even more special, the brand pairs its steel bezel with an unprecedented dial colour, metallic blue – a node to the DeLuca and Rainbow. Finished with a sunray-brushed pattern, it retains the emblematic tricolour sub-counters – grey, anthracite and blue – that immediately connect it to the icon of the brand, the A386 El Primero. The result is rather striking, creating great contrast with the SLN and black lacquer-filled hands and applied markers. A nice detail, the date disc matches the dial.

Under the sapphire back is the calibre El Primero 3600. This in-house movement is a strong evolution of the classic engine revealed in 1969, yet it’s been modernized in many aspects. The most visible upgrade is its ability to display 1/10th of a second, with a central second hand rotating around the dial in 10 seconds. Among other notable features, the power reserve has been beefed up to 60 hours and it now comes with a stop-seconds mechanism. The decoration has also been modernized and the 2023 collection introduces a new star-shaped oscillating weight.

This new Zenith Chronomaster Sport with polished steel bezel is worn on the classic 3-link steel bracelet with a folding clasp. Now available and part of the permanent collection, it is priced at CHF 10,400 or EUR 11,300. For more details, please visit www.zenith-watches.com.