Hands-On With The Rose Gold Zenith Chronomaster Sport Boutique And Online Edition
I am always happy to try a new Zenith watch, especially when it’s made of precious materials. And that’s precisely what this Chronomaster Sport is about, boasting a rose gold case, a spinel-, diamond-, and sapphire-set bezel, and a gold meteorite dial with diamonds.
Chronomaster Sport 22.3100.3600/69.M3100
This Zenith Chronomaster Sport in 18K rose gold is not for the fainthearted. Although I love gold watches (and I even own one with a dial with diamond hour indices), the additional gem-set bezel and golden meteorite dial make this model not for everyone. But hey, the watch showed up at Fratello HQ, and I was happy to volunteer for the hands-on review.
We often hear that the Chronomaster Sport looks like the Rolex Daytona, but this model immediately reels that in. I don’t particularly have an issue with the resemblance anyway. After all, the case shape and dial are very different in the flesh, and the watches wear differently as well. Nevertheless, I think this rose gold version no longer shares many similarities.
Great dimensions for a gold chronograph
This 41mm case measures 46.8mm from lug to lug, and it fits well on my 18.5cm wrist. The Chronomaster Sport, with just a 13.6mm thickness, also sits well under my cuffs. The dimensions of this watch are relatively modest for a modern chronograph, and especially in precious metal, you want it to be modest to avoid attracting too much attention.
On the dial and bezel, there’s a proper party going on! A combination of baguette-cut white diamonds, black spinels, and gray and blue sapphires divides the bezel into three sections (note: the English version of Zenith’s website lists the gray stones as spinels, but versions in other languages list them as sapphires). We also find 12 baguette-cut diamonds and three recessed sub-dials in different colors (two shades of gray and one in blue) on the dial. The dial is a slice of meteorite with a gold treatment that matches the 18K rose gold of the case and bracelet. Even the date disc has a matching rose gold color.
High-beat El Primero 3600 movement
It has been a lot of fun wearing this rose gold Zenith Chronomaster Sport, and I guess you’re all familiar with the El Primero chronograph movements that tick at 36,000 vibrations per hour. If not, the El Primero has been around since 1969 and can measure 1/10th of a second (as the operation frequency is 5Hz/in steps of 1/10th of a second). With gems having replaced the 1/10th-second scale, the main issue here is getting an instantaneous read-out of that measurement. But if you remember that each gem covers 2/10ths of a second, you can indeed read it with some effort. Plus, the smooth-running chronograph hand, which makes one lap every 10 seconds, is lovely to watch. In theory, a high-beat movement also offers greater accuracy. However, this depends on the outside disturbances and energies to which the watch is exposed.
The El Primero caliber 3600 is visible through the sapphire window on the back. The high-beat chronograph movement has some nice decoration and a skeletonized rotor, but I wouldn’t have minded some elements (or everything) being in gold color as well. Anyway, the movement offers 60 hours of power reserve, has hacking seconds, and consists of 319 parts. This column-wheel chronograph movement is very similar to the first El Primero caliber. Still, Zenith has used many iterations of that movement in the last +50 years and has ensured that this one is up to modern standards.
Wearing precious metals and diamonds
Something tells me, though, that the buyer of a watch like this Zenith Chronomaster Sport in rose gold doesn’t need to be sold on accuracy. This model demands a specific taste and interest in precious materials and diamonds. I have to say, when wearing this watch, the bezel was my biggest concern, but it’s so nicely executed that it didn’t draw (the wrong kind of) attention. Some people just commented on the watch because it’s in full gold, and that’s the major attention-getter here.
With its polished center links and anglage on the outer links, the gold bracelet on this watch looks amazing and is quite comfortable. However, one issue I encountered with this watch was the bracelet. The clasp feels and looks a bit “hollow” or “simple.” And that’s not what I expect on a €100K+ watch. It looks good, though. It just doesn’t feel very solid.
That said, it’s a minor comment on this otherwise incredibly good-looking watch. The finishing on the case, with its brushed and polished surfaces, mushroom pushers, and beautiful faceted lugs, is very pleasing to the eyes.
Pricing and availability on the Zenith Chronomaster Sport in gold
This Zenith Chronomaster Sport in rose gold has reference number 22.3100.3600/69.M3100 and is only available online and through select Zenith boutiques. The retail price for this reference is €106,000 / CHF 98,000 / US$98,600. Although it’s not a watch I’d take for a swim, you can rest assured that it’s also water resistant to 100 meters.
For more information, visit the Zenith website.
