Hands-On With The Glorious Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium — A Watch That Plays Clever Mind Games
If you are not a fan of titanium watches, the Zenith Chronomaster Sport will confirm the number-one issue you might have with them. Straight out of the box, this new Chronomaster Sport feels super lightweight. If you want a watch to have some substantial heft, this is not the watch for you. But that’s the only reason I can think of why you would not want this brilliant monochromatic Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium. I had a chance to go hands-on with it and was surprised by the tricks that the watch uses to make you fall in love with it. Let me uncover what makes this new titanium version of the Chronomaster Sport extraordinary.
Daan explained in his introduction article that the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium was released to celebrate Zenith’s partnership with the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) championship. The brand is the official timekeeper of this new series of tennis events. It’s a rather important task as matches are played in a format of four quarters of eight minutes each. As a tennis fan and someone who has played the sport for almost four decades, I know the UTS. It’s a fun initiative that shows a more relaxed and casual side of tennis while simultaneously increasing the fun on the court. While I grew up with traditional tennis, and it’s hard to replace that, I think the UTS adds a bit of the youthfulness that is necessary to compete with booming racket sports like padel and pickleball.
The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium has the look
The brand’s new Chronomaster Sport Titanium was made to celebrate the looser style of the UTS. While this gives the watch a story that I connect to because I love tennis, that’s not why I am attracted to the watch. No, it’s all about the looks. When I first saw the Chronomaster Sport Titanium, I was immediately drawn to the monochromatic appearance. I think it very well could be the best-looking Chronomaster Sport in the lineup.
This titanium version, the steel-bezel models I wrote about, the rose gold version with the black dial, and the stainless steel version with the black dial make for a nice quintet of Chonomaster Sport models. In all honesty, after my initial impressions, I do think that this one is the best of them all. While the watch is handsome, I was completely surprised by how light it was. It weighs only 105 grams. That is 30% lighter than the 148 grams of its stainless steel peers. While 105 is not extraordinary light, it did mess with my perception tremendously.
The deception of that material and its weight
Somehow, I just hadn’t expected it to feel that light. I didn’t know what to think of that immediately but decided to let it sink in. The second thing that immediately caught my attention was the rattly sound of the bracelet. Titanium has a very distinct sound that is nothing like stainless steel.
If you have ever worn a Zenith watch on a bracelet, you’ll know that the bracelets and clasps have a vintage feel to them. As Daan said in his review of the Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar, “It is a vintage-inspired watch, but that doesn’t mean its bracelet should also feel like it was made in the ’70s.”
It’s something you do not necessarily expect from modern bracelets, and every time I wear a Zenith, I am conflicted. As Daan said, the production details should be on par with the price, especially if you put a watch against competitors. And that’s where I think Zenith could win some ground. That said, while others may disagree, I love the comfort and charm of the brand’s bracelets. Wearing a Zenith bracelet is an absolute joy. They might not be the best in the business, but they are super comfortable, and that’s what I am looking for in the end.
The specs of the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium
But before we get into the entire wearing experience, we must remind ourselves of the details. The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium has a 41mm Grade 5 titanium case that is 13.6mm thick and 46.8mm from lug to lug. It’s a well-proportioned case that looks nice in titanium. I had a chance to try it on the Grade 5 titanium bracelet, and the material’s hue is wonderful. At first, it looked like a darker gray color, like many titanium watches.
But I started smiling once I took the watch outside in the sunlight. The color turns into a dark gray with a hint of warm yellow. It’s a super tasteful presence that works well with the predominantly brushed finish of the case and bracelet. On top of that, it brings extra attention to the polished chamfers of the lugs and the bezel. It’s an absolute joy to see the color of the material. It has a certain warmth and charm that I adore, and it works incredibly well with the dial color.
The combination of soft colors is magical
Zenith opted for a nickel-tone sunburst dial with anthracite, light gray, and silver sub-dials. The nickel hue is gray in studio light, but it takes on a beautiful, warm tone in natural light. It almost feels like a soft beige that works super well with the Grade 5 titanium. The sunburst dial combines faceted rhodium-plated hands and indexes with a black lacquer filling. Additionally, they feature an application of white Super-LumiNova for nighttime readability.
Subtle but vivid hints of color come in the form of bright red elements. The red tip of the central chronograph hand, the red stripes on the chronograph hands in the sub-dials, and the red “36,000 VpH” text on the dial contrast the monochromatic aesthetic nicely. It gives the watch just enough zing to prevent it from becoming boring. Overall, I have to say that Zenith has created a watch that is a joy to behold. From the overall combination of colors to small details like the glittery date disc with black printing and the black and white used for the markers and hands, Zenith has nailed it with this Chronomaster Sport Titanium.
The Zenith El Primero 3600 caliber
Inside the case is the El Primero 3600 column-wheel chronograph caliber. The central chronograph hand makes a full lap of the dial in 10 seconds, which is spectacular. Not only does it allow you to time things accurately to 1/10th of a second but it also adds a visual element that is fun to play with. It’s all thanks to that wonderful El Primero caliber with a lineage of modern watchmaking royalty.
While wearing the watch, I did not use the chronograph a lot. But sometimes I just clicked the start pusher and let the chronograph hand make its rounds at high speed. After forgetting that I had started the chronograph, it was always a joy to glance at the watch again and remember that. This made the watch not only a time-telling tool but also an enjoyable thing to interact with, even if I was not actively timing anything.
Wearing the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium
On the wrist is where the Chronomaster Sport Titanium truly shines. At first, I had to get used to the low weight and the rattly bracelet. But slowly, the watch started to win me over. It started with a great combination of materials and colors. Despite having a fairly monochromatic presence, no other watch I’ve ever experienced looks like this one. It has an undeniable charm that I fell in love with. Secondly, the watch wears like a dream thanks to the low weight and the super comfortable bracelet.
Sure, we can debate the production quality of the bracelet with its stamped clasp for days, and I would agree that it’s not up to par with Rolex or Omega bracelets. It made me skeptical at first, but on the wrist, I quickly was reminded of what makes Zenith watches great to wear. I wore it for over a week straight, so I had time to get used to it and put it through its paces. After doing that, I have to say that everything makes sense. It’s hard to fault it when you wear it. The pump pushers start, stop, and reset the chronograph with firm clicks, the crown is easy to operate, and the size and proportions perfectly fit my wrist.
Final thoughts on the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium
As you’ve guessed by now, I loved my time with the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium. The watch is the full package for me. It has impeccable looks, a great movement, and supreme comfort on the wrist. In the end, the lightweight material and construction of the bracelet did not bother me one second when I wore the watch. And I will attribute that to the great charm that Zenith has. It’s a charm that I fall for over and over again. The brand knows how to make a watch look great, and this is another perfect example.
Remember how I said that there was only one issue with this watch? It’s the low weight of the titanium material. While it was not a real issue for me, if you are not a fan, there are plenty of stainless Chronomaster Sport steel options like the ones I mentioned. However, a potential second issue might be that the watch has a €12,300 price tag on the bracelet. The good thing is that it’s only a few hundred euros more expensive than the stainless steel options.
But would I spend that kind of money on this watch? Rationally, I am inclined to say that I wouldn’t. However, as we all know, falling in love with a watch is anything but a rational experience. For me, Zenith has done it again. The brand has created another stunning watch that completely won me over. If I had the money, I would pick this over the majority of competing options at this price point. Rationally, they might be better watches, but they do not have the charm and class of the Chronomaster Sport Titanium. And that’s why I love Zenith as much as I do.
