Zenith Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition Watch
Fidel Castro smoked his cigars with a Rolex GMT-Master and a gold Datejust on the same wrist. Winston Churchill had a Breguet rattrapante minute repeater pocket watch close at hand. Zenith doesn’t need a revolutionary or a statesman to make the cigar/watch connection, it does so all by itself. And has been doing so since 2016 when Zenith created a special El Primero Cohiba chronograph for the cigar brand’s 50th anniversary. Five years later the Zenith Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition watch debuts.
The fact that cigar smokers, no matter how famous they are, wear watches is nothing to write about. What is interesting though is the fact that both high-end cigars and high horology watches are artisanal products; examples of exquisite craftsmanship. High-quality first-class materials too. And it takes a lot of time, effort, dedication, and skill, to either hand-roll a cigar or to assemble a complicated watch.
It’s not just Zenith that sees the connection between cigars and watches, and, perhaps more importantly, the overlap between cigar aficionados and watch connoisseurs. For instance, Hublot made a cigar-themed watch with engraved tobacco leaves on the case and bezel. And independent ArtyA used real tobacco leaves for the dial in its Son of Earth Tobacco Collection. Zenith didn’t explore the world of cigar materials. Therefore, the Zenith Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition watch shows its link to Cohiba more conservatively through the use of color.
Zenith Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition Watch
2021 marks the year of Cohiba’s 55th anniversary. It is safe to say that Cohiba is one of the most distinguished and revered Cuban cigar makers. Zenith joins the celebration with an exclusive commemorative edition of the Chronomaster Open, the Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition, a limited edition of 55 pieces with a price of €9,700.
A look that clearly says “Havanna” or “Cuba libre” …
Cohiba’s signature saffron yellow color together with the design codes of the packaging and paper bands that wrap its hand-rolled cigars, reflect in the dial of the new Chronomaster Open. As a result, the combination of yellow and white on a black checkered motif will immediately ring a bell with passionate cigar smokers. A yellow chronograph seconds hand with a star-shaped counterweight and a black alligator leather strap complete the look. It’s a look that clearly says “Havanna” or “Cuba libre” if you’re having a glass of rum and coke with your cigar and chronograph.
55 watches and 275 cigars in total
The steel 42mm Chronomaster Open Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition has an open case back. And that reveals the special Cohiba 55 logo printed on the interior side of the sapphire crystal. And it also shows the COSC-certified, automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph movement with its silicon escape-wheel and lever. Moreover, each watch comes with a set of five special Cohiba cigars presented in an exclusive co-branded porcelain jar. If that doesn’t create the right mood to enjoy the watch and cigar in perfect harmony, nothing will.
The Chronomaster Cohiba 55th Anniversary Edition (ref. 03.2041.4061/55.C496) will be available at Zenith boutiques and select retailers around the world from October of this year.
For more information please visit Zenith’s website.
