Unveiled in September, the Zenith Chronomaster Solo Sport is a £9,700 steel-cased three-hander driven by the high-frequency El Primero movement, which records elapsed times down to 1/10th of a second.
Zenith is set to reposition itself as a low-volume maker of expensive, haute-horlogerie models, ft.com reported. This strategic shift comes hot on the heels of the release of what might be the watch to bring the historic dial name greater recognition.
The El Primero Movement
Dedicated watch enthusiasts who examine the piece closely will find a timepiece built around a mechanism widely considered one of the most significant mechanical movements ever designed for wristwatches. The working prototype of the El Primero was announced in January 1969 as the world’s first self-winding chronograph.
Operating at a frequency of 5Hz, the movement records elapsed times down to 1/10th of a second. This technical feature makes it among the most precise mechanical chronographs on the market 57 years after its creation, ft.com reported.
Over the years, the El Primero has grown to achieve greater fame across the horological landscape than the manufacturer that originally produced it. Zenith has now modified its prized asset to function as an exceptionally precise, time-only calibre within the Chronomaster Solo Sport.
Technical Details of the 5Hz Movement and 40mm Case
Powered by its 5Hz resonance, the 219-part movement achieves 36,000 vibrations of the balance wheel per hour. This enables the seconds hand to orbit the dial far more smoothly than conventional movements running at 4Hz and 28,800 VpH, while retaining 60 hours of autonomy.
The movement’s silicon escapement all but eliminates the likelihood of it becoming magnetised. A stop or hacking seconds function, activated by pulling out the crown, enables pinpoint time setting.
Encased in 40mm of steel, the watch features a durable ceramic bezel colour-coordinated to match whichever of the three available dial options is chosen. Crafted from polished ceramic in black, white, or brown, the faces are adorned with Zenith’s high-frequency interlocking Z motif.
The minute track features a shark’s tooth design revived from the maker’s vintage dive watches. Protection against water intrusion up to 200 metres is provided by a screw-down crown alongside a sapphire display back held securely by a compression ring and four screws.
Features and Pricing for the Chronomaster Solo Sport
A new, 41-piece Zenclasp fitting allows quick and simple adjustment of the bracelet of plus or minus 10mm. Combined with the unidirectional bezel, those two features suggest the Chronomaster Solo Sport might have been designed as a dive watch, though it was not specifically intended as one.
Instead, the watch is intended to be a highly accurate, durable, top-quality all-rounder for everyday wear. It costs £9,700, or £8,700 for the no-date version available for the black-dial model.
This pricing represents a more interesting and far higher specification alternative to more widely recognised three-handers. However, ft.com reported that it is something that will not be available from Zenith ever again after the 2029 completion of its proposed restructuring.
