Zenith unveils Chronomaster Sport Skeleton with openworked El Primero 3600

Zenith launches the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton with El Primero 3600 SK and 41 mm case. Four versions in steel and rose gold. Prices start at €16,500

Zenith expands its contemporary chronograph offering with the new Chronomaster Sport Skeleton, an openworked interpretation of the Chronomaster Sport that places the El Primero calibre at the centre of attention while introducing a newly developed folding clasp with on-the-fly micro-adjustment.

At launch, Zenith presented four versions, each offering a different interpretation of the model.

Two stainless steel references are available with either a black ceramic bezel (ref. 03.3130.3600 / 01.M3130) or a green ceramic bezel (ref. 03.3131.3600 / 01.M3130), both fitted to a three-link steel bracelet and accompanied by a matching rubber strap.

A third version in 18-carat rose gold pairs a black ceramic bezel with a black rubber strap (ref. 18.3130.3600 / 01.R951).

Completing the range is a limited edition of 10 pieces in rose gold (ref. 22.3130.3600 / 01.M3100), distinguished by a matching gold bracelet and a bezel set with 52 baguette-cut diamonds totalling approximately 5 carats.

All versions share a 41 mm case with alternating brushed and polished surfaces, preserving the sporty profile of the Chronomaster Sport while adding greater visual depth through the transparent dial. 

Water resistance is rated to 10 ATM (100 metres / 330 feet).

The dial is formed from sapphire crystal with a smoked black gradient that becomes increasingly transparent toward the centre, revealing the skeletonised movement below.

Zenith retains the familiar overlapping tri-colour counters in grey, anthracite and blue, a direct reference to the original El Primero introduced in 1969. 

Applied baton hour markers and faceted hands are rhodium-plated and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN C1 to enhance legibility.

Powering the watch is the automatic El Primero 3600 SK, a skeletonised evolution of Zenith’s latest high-frequency chronograph calibre. 

Beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz), it enables direct measurement of 1/10th of a second through the central chronograph hand, which completes one full rotation in 10 seconds.

The elapsed reading is displayed against the ceramic bezel engraved with a 10-second scale, making the indication immediately intuitive to use.

The movement uses a column wheel and horizontal clutch architecture, both visible through the dial and sapphire caseback. Zenith highlights the column wheel in blue, while a silicon escape wheel and lever contribute to long-term precision and reduced wear.

A stop-seconds mechanism allows accurate setting, while power reserve is rated at approximately 60 hours. Winding is handled by a newly shaped openworked rotor engraved with the Zenith star.

One of the practical novelties of the steel models is the introduction of the patented ZENCLASP folding clasp. 

Comprising 41 components, it incorporates a micro-adjustment device that allows tool-free resizing directly on the wrist in 2.5 mm increments, with a total adjustment range of 10 mm.

Zenith states that durability testing simulated more than ten years of use, representing over 600,000 opening and closing cycles.

Prices for the new Zenith Chronomaster Sport Skeleton are set at CHF 14,900 / €16,500 / US$16,700 for the stainless steel versions, CHF 27,900 / €31,200 / US$31,500 for the rose gold model, and CHF 99,000 / €111,400 / US$111,000 for the 10-piece gem-set limited edition. zenith-watches.com

Suggested reading:

• The history of the Zenith El Primero

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