Zenith debuted an attractive new titanium version of the Chronomaster Sport this week.
The Chronomaster Sport Titanium comes in a familiar, well-proportioned 41 mm x 13.8 mm case, and thanks to grade 5 titanium, it weighs just 105 grams on a bracelet, which makes it 30% lighter than a stainless steel Chronomaster Sport. And it’s even lighter on the FKM integrated rubber strap.
Where it’s not light is the price. At $11,800 for the bracelet version, and $11,300 for the integrated FKM rubber strap (FKM is a premium rubber that’s soft and pliable). At $11,800 that’s only an $800 premium for a grade 5 titanium case and bracelet compared to the standard stainless steel Chronomaster Sport which is $11,000 (up from its debut price in 2021 of $10,000), or just $300 extra if you opt for a rubber strap. And well below a watch such as the Rolex Daytona, which it resembles. Does that mean it’s well-priced?
Depends how you look at it. The stainless steel Daytona, which is priced at $15,100 currently, is similar but in another league (they still sell for well over retail on the secondary market) as far as resale goes. And if you compare it to something like an Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch, which is $6,600 to $8,000 in stainless steel depending on the version, with an excellent chronograph movement as well, then the $11K+ price tag of the Zenith brings up questions, especially considering the Zenith chronograph movement has little to no hand finishing.
All of that said, the size and aesthetic of the Chronomaster Sport Titanium (same in stainless steel) look good, though, some consumers might prefer a dark gray or black bezel or more contrast on the nickel-grey sunburst tricolor dial. The El Primero caliber 3600 movement is reliable and offers a 5Hz beat rate with 35 jewels and a 60-hour power reserve, and is visible through the clear caseback, but there’s little to no hand finishing to justify the high price. One could even argue that the TAG Heuer Carrera’s in-house chronograph movement, with a column wheel and vertical clutch, is more sophisticated than a movement with a column wheel and horizontal clutch, and those start as low as $5,850 on a strap currently.
The Chronomaster Sport Titanium is undoubtedly a nice looking watch, but as one Hodinkee reader wrote in the comments of their coverage of the launch “luckily no one pays msrp for zeniths.”
Photos by Zenith.
