Zenith Chronomaster Sport Review: The Modern El Primero Four Years Later

The Zenith Chronomaster Sport debuted back in 2021 and has evolved into one of the brand’s most compelling contemporary chronographs (and that’s saying a lot for Zenith). There was a lot of initial chatter about some similarities to the Rolex Daytona because the collection debuted with a panda and reverse panda dial model with ceramic bezel and, while the comparisons are certainly valid, it does warrant a reminder that the Daytona indeed used to be El Primero-powered.

Earlier in 2025, Zenith went all out on the blue theme at this year’s Watches & Wonders in celebration of its 160th anniversary. The star of the show may have been the return of the Caliber 135 in the G.F.J. (see more on that one right here), but the supporting releases didn’t hold back either, boasting bright blue ceramic cases and bracelets. Together, this trio of watches comprise the Zenith 160th anniversary collection, touching on each of the cornerstones of the brand’s modern architecture. The watch I am going to focus on here is the Zenith Chronomaster Sport rendered nearly in its entirety in blue ceramic, showcasing a very different side of the brand’s most popular modern chronograph.

Zenith Chronomaster Sport Context

The Chronomaster collection has been around since 1994, building on the rather illustrious history of precision timing (outlined in more detail right here) that Zenith is known for. In 2021, Zenith found its modern stride with the release of the Chronomaster Sport with a black ceramic bezel. This watch packaged the iconic El Primero movement into modern trappings while still presenting some of the expected design cues that make it unique to Zenith, such as the tri-color overlapping subdials. The steel chronograph, offered with both white and black dials, was an instant sensation, filling a high-demand area of the market in a way that other brands could not. It also didn’t hurt to have the chronograph hand whipping around the dial in 10 seconds rather than the usual 60 seconds thanks to the 1/10th second accuracy of the creatively used El Primero calibre.

Zenith Chronomaster Sport Case

Zenith lists the size of the Chronomaster Sport at 41mm in diameter, but it feels and looks closer to that 40mm mark (in my opinion at least). That makes for a case size of 41mm wide, 13.6mm thick with a lug-to-lug measurement of 46.2mm. The classic steel case with ceramic bezel (100m of water resistance) has a really nice mix of brushed and polished finishes that make for a really high-end look that isn’t too flashy. There are no crown guards or screw-down pushers here which should probably make some people happy. Of note is the fact that the crown isn’t screw down but the Chronomaster Sport still boasts 100m of water resistance.

To get a better idea of the Chronomaster Sport in a different execution, let’s move over to the case on the blue ceramic model.This year, in an effort to mark the brand’s anniversary, Zenith is using ceramic for the case and bracelet for the first time on this model, and — as with the other Anniversary models, one a Defy Skyline Chronograph, the other a Pilot Chronograph — it’s a tone-on-tone blue that carries straight through to the blue lacquered dial. To be clear, this is far from the first time we’ve seen Zenith use ceramic in such a way, but this is the first we’ve seen in this distinctive “Zenith blue” colorway, and it is the first time a full ceramic construction has been used within the Chronomaster Sport collection. It’s all the qualities we know and love when it comes to ceramic, e.g. silky smooth and lightweight on the wrist, but now in a rich blue colorway. The base design of the Chronomaster Sport is simple and handsome, and so it’s no surprise that it works just as well in a pure blue palette. 

Since the material at work here is quite lightweight, this actually wears in similar manner to the titanium variation released in 2024. The material itself, however, is a different story. There’s a glassy, smooth texture to the hard material, and here Zenith has gone with a mix of brushed and polished surfaces to break things up a bit. The ceramic links of the bracelet have a particularly silky quality common to the material; however, like all ceramic objects, there is a fragility that comes with the feeling that keeps it somewhat precious in nature. Not exactly a great quality for a sports watch. 

Zenith Chronomaster Sport Dial

The dial has all the standard fixtures present, including the tri-color overlapping subdials that range from silver, to grey, to dark blue. The date remains at 4:30 (an El Primero signature quality) and the date disk has been color-matched not only on the white and black dial but also on the blue ceramic model. The hands have a lume infill that matches the end caps of the applied hour markers.

When it comes to the blue ceramic model, this is an instance where I feel that a full-lume application along the length of the hour marker would have worked well to provide more consistent contrast against the blue backdrop. The top of the dial retains the El Primero label, and proudly boasts the 36,000-vph beat rate below it. It’s such a classic dial layout that it works equally as well on a blue ceramic iteration as it does on the standard models you see here.

El Primero 3600 Movement

Every Chronomaster Sport model uses the El Primer 3600 movement which is special due to having that 1/10 of a second accuracy. It does bear repeating that it is always a treat to watch that chronograph hand do a lap in 10 seconds as opposed to the usual 60 seconds. It’s one of those horological quirks that are actually special and help the watch stand out from the competition (of which there is a lot). The El Primero 3600 operates at 5Hz while retaining a very robust 60-hour power reserve. This kind of performance and accuracy is pretty unique to Zenith even when you compare it with other modern chronographs at a significantly higher price point.

The movement is finished quite well with such an excellent view of the lateral clutch and column wheel, lovely blued screws, satin brushing, and that star-shaped rotor. Note that the blue ceramic model is just about the same with the exception of a special skeletonized oscillating weight bearing the 160th Anniversary logo.

Iterations and Final Thoughts

There are a bunch of Chronomaster Sport options out there done in a range of materials. The steel models are priced at $11,800 while the blue ceramic will set you back a bit more at $22,700. Ceramic is one of those materials that is beginning to appear quite often across a wide range of price points, making it difficult to get a sense of value that its use brings to a watch. It’s worth noting that ceramic with such a vibrant color is rarer, and generally associated more with brands such as Audemars Piguet and Zenith’s LVMH stablemate, Hublot. Getting this kind of color to work in such a small, detailed package with a high level of finish is a challenge, and there’s something to be said about the overall feel when it comes together well. I’d say Zenith has done a good job in this department, as this Chronomaster Sport doesn’t feel cheap or plastic-y, as some ceramic watches can. 

For a more complete look at pricing in the collection, the entry level steel model is priced at $10,200 on strap, $11,800 on bracelet, titanium bumps up to $12,300 (but you don’t get the ceramic bezel), two-tone steel and gold is $16,500 on strap and $19,300 on bracelet. You can upgrade to solid gold for $24,800 on strap and $43,000 on bracelet. Finally, there are the solid gold with gem-set bezels which start at just around $100,000.

The Zenith Chronomaster Sport has grown quite a bit in 4 years and it’s not a stretch to say that it’s been one of the brand’s mainstream breakout hits. Let’s see what the future holds for this luxury chronograph. You can learn more about the collection over at zenith-watches.com