Zenith’s standard Chronomaster Original models — with or without the triple date function — look fantastic.

The new black and white, reverse panda-style Zenith x Hodinkee Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Limited Edition, delivered in a 38 mm x 14 mm stainless steel case with an integrated bracelet, is no exception.

Design-wise, the black moon phase disc, black date wheel, and meteorite sub-dials result in a unique aesthetic that’s classically tasteful. Zenith’s history and provenance is excellent. The El Primero is a respectable in-house Swiss mechanical chronograph caliber.

If you ask people who follow or collect Zenith, the main problem, is it’s not worth the asking price. Sure the standard Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Limited Edition is currently asking $13,900 (or $500 more) on Zenith’s website, even without meteorite subdials, the cool monochrome color scheme, or limited edition status — but just because one price is too high, and a comparable watch from the same brand undercuts it that does not automatically make the cheaper option a good deal.

The other issue is the roughly $3,000 premium for a triple calendar complication.

Relative to perception, value retention, past pricing data, and comparable model current prices is the Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar overpriced?

The answer may be in the fact that Hodinkee debuted the $13,500 Zenith x Hodinkee Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar exclusively via a shop page — without any editorial or the ability to comment — because perhaps they knew the discussion would be dominated by negative comments related to price.

 

Photo by Hodinkee.