Zenith Chronomaster Original

A look at the 2021 Zenith Chronomaster Original swiss chronograph with the new El Primero 3600 calibre movement.

Movie clip from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Shirt: Bonobos - Stretch Cord Shirt
Shirt jacket: Nau - Kush Utility Blazer

[deltropico]

I dig the honesty of the dialogue with the eventual humorous, sarcastic undertones. This is epic!

[roybenjey]

Zenith got me into the game over a decade ago. This one just makes me smile :)

[BrittPearceWatches]

I really really like this watch! I love your taste. You always review watches I LOVE! I think 2022 is going to be a big year for zenith

[mrsnipestyle]

Most beautiful watch on the market right now, just wow. Looks so vintage yet so modern!

[dylanpod]

The Zenith El Primero was the first high frequency (36, 000 vibrations per hour vs 19, 800 vph of the Chronomatic and 21, 600 vph of the Seiko 6139), fully integrated, automatic chronograph, the first with a running seconds hand and it was only 6.5 mm thick, even slimmer than traditional chronographs!

Zenith and Movado (at the time the two brands were owned by the same holding) explained these features in their announcement: “The Zenith and Movado watch companies have achieved an extraordinary feat in combining two precision watches in one. It comprises a high-frequency automatic watch with calendar along with a timer-chronograph allowing time measurements to the tenth of a second. It is equipped with an hour and minute timer. This is the first watch of its type in the world. The extraordinary feature is that both these mechanisms fit in a space smaller than that of a traditional chronograph. This model has all the advantages of a standard watch plus the date, automatic winding and the chronograph with timers and calendar.”

[wristroll_vlad]

Great review! To me the most iconic and historically significant are El Primero and Navitimer.
In late 1960s Zenith were in a hurry to beat the Chronomatics (Breitling, Heuer and Buren/Hamilton) and Seiko and introduce the first automatic chronograph 2 months earlier in 1969. The fact is Zenith were the last to start selling their piece while the Chronomatics’ Caliber 11 hit the market several months earlier. To this day it is unclear who had the first automatic chronograph but regardless, these two are truly awesome and in my opinion everything else is technically speaking an homage to them.

[JasonTheWatchGuy]

The original and the best in my opinion! I'd love to see a Chronomaster Sport in person, incredible watch.

[Gary-liib]

Stunning in all variations. Best looking chronograph out there by far and a perfect size too👌

[michaelfierman]

If my bank account wasn't already at the hospice this would absolutely be on my wrist. Great presentation as always Evan!

[DirectRegister]

One of my absolute favorite watches right now.

[LeoRomanusFilms]

Love the classic look of the dial on the version you reviewed. I actually like the tan markers too. Putting aside the faux-vintage conversation, it helps differentiate the markers on a dial that has a lot of information in stark white; aka, makes it easier to read.

Good stuff and it’s great that there are myriad color choices to boot.

[omarion]

I’m not even remotely interested in Zenith but I came here only to watch your review.. One of the best content creators on YouTube!

[toggimir]

I came from a speedy pro which always was a tad to big and I didn't care for the manual movement. Picked up a classic Zenith El Primero Chrono from around 2000, at 38mm it's a amazing and the slimness is insane compared to the hand wound speedy. It's currently at the watchmaker getting a new crystal.cant wait to get it back! This has really opened my eyes for Zenith.

[mikesheehan]

Love it. Bark and Jack brought me here... Glad I came

[MarioGonzalez-yqgw]

THAT CLASP though!!!

Zenith has definitely been catching my eye. Have you seen the new Defy Skyline? A MASTERPIECE in my opinion.
That one would also make a great video!

Great job as always with the video. Thoughtful, funny, , informative and charming.

[TheRealMafoo]

great review. The funny thing is the El Primero movement used to power the Daytona. I have that movement in a Bvlgari watch, and it's the one I wear most often. Great movement, and great watch company! I love Zenith.

[ditmerk]

Favorite youtube! On behalf of the community! Thank you terrific watch guy!

[LeonXOV]

Besides the interesting content, one of the largest reason I subscribed to you is because your voice is almost identical with the “history of Japan” guy, so dry, yet so humorous. Keep up the good work!

[DeadReckoner]

This one had immediately poked me in the eye when it was released. Maybe I could navigate in flight to ridiculous, sub-second accuracy (not a chance). Another excellent video, Evan.

I'd love to see/hear your take on the newish 41mm Omega Seamaster 300 (the "Heritage" model with the calibre 8912), if you could get access to one!

[Nefville]

I know a Sanjay who will be very happy you reviewed this.