This Week In The Shop: Four New-For-2024 Watches From Zenith
Your Weekly Shop Brief
While we’re on the subject of new watches from Zenith, the brand’s new DEFY Skyline Chronograph definitely deserves a mention. We have this one in blue, though I am surprisingly drawn to the silver dial model if I were to pick a favorite.
Four New-For-2024 Watches From Zenith
I think we can all agree that Zenith is on something of a roll this year. Among its class of 2024 releases, we’ve seen the brand experiment with color and materials, put the revival spin on some of its most dynamic heritage designs and complications, and refine and expand upon its contemporary fare. In attempts to at once give credit where credit is due and to put some watches back on your radar that might have gotten swept away by the Watches & Wonders release frenzy, I’ve selected four of (what I think) are Zenith’s most compelling launches from 2024 below for your viewing pleasure.
Zenith DEFY Revival A3648
How could I not begin here? In size, functionality, and funky retro appeal, this vibrant DEFY Revival is undoubtedly one of the most quirky in the bunch. I will concede that the bold use of orange throughout this piece might not be the easiest color palette to seamlessly style in your current wardrobe like a more neutral watch might, but what’s the fun in that?
The aforementioned loud use of orange, as well as this piece’s 37mm sizing, are both true to the heritage design that Zenith’s latest DEFY Revival references – the funky DEFY A3648, which debuted in 1969. The crown placement at four-thirty, along with the signature octagonal case shape and 14-sided bezel, all harken to the original as well. Notable improvements include the plexiglass formerly used, which has been upgraded to sapphire crystal, and the orange unidirectional dive bezel now rests outside the round internal bezel. In terms of utility, this piece is water resistant up to a whopping 600 meters. Powered by the brand’s Elite 670 automatic movement, this watch is complete with a power reserve of 50 hours. Not too shabby.
Zenith Chronomaster Sport Green Dial
Debuting at the beginning of this year, this piece ushered the green watch trend into the staple lineup of the Chronomaster Sport family. As compared with the green-hued limited edition take made in collaboration with Aaron Rogers last year, this model maintains the trio of multi-colored chronograph subdials in hues of silver, warm grey, and blue.
Sporty and legible, this green-on-green Chronomaster Sport features a 41mm case with a 13.5mm thickness crafted out of stainless steel and paired with a matching stainless steel bracelet. It wouldn’t be a Zenith without a hard-working and mechanically sophisticated movement within, and in this case, we’re working with the latest version of the brand’s iconic El Primero caliber 3600. This automatic movement beats at 5Hz, has an expanded power reserve of up to 60 hours, and is now equipped with a central seconds hand capable of tracking elapsed time up to 1/10th of a second. The sapphire crystal exhibition-style caseback reveals the movement in all its glory, including the open-worked rotor decorated with Zenith’s signature five-pointed star motif.
Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar
With a new complete calendar caliber, Zenith has officially ushered its Triple Calender, equipped with a moon phase complication, back into the fold. Not only is this model vintage-inspired, but, as our own Tony Traina has already mentioned in this article, the Chronomaster Original Triple Calender uses the exact proportions and design blueprint as the 1969 model that this piece pays homage to with its 38mm x 13mm thick case.
Despite its unique heritage roots, this model feels particularly contemporary with its warm grey color palette, which mixes well with the touches of rosy gold hues on the hands and indices. This design feels particularly streamlined with its bezel-free construction, as well as the mix of color-matched calendar and date windows situated above the chronograph subdials and at four-thirty. This piece’s inner workings are just as sophisticated as its appearance, complete with the latest iteration of Zenith’s legendary El Primero chronograph calendar – the Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar El Primero 3610 – which has a power reserve of 60 hours and can be observed in action through the sapphire crystal caseback.
Zenith Chronomaster Sport Titanium
In terms of its aesthetic or utility, this take on the Chronomaster Sport aligns neatly with its family members as far as appearances go, mostly staying in step with the design we’re already familiar with one of the brand’s staple sports chronographs. That being said, this rendition’s subtlety allows for its titanium construction, a material that Zenith doesn’t often experiment with, to shine.
This piece leans into the color palette of titanium with its mostly monochrome silver hues. The chronograph subregisters maintain Zenith’s signature tricolored flair, but this time, they have been executed in a trio of silvery hues varying from almost white to deep grey. The real novelty of this piece lies is in the way that it feels on the wrist, which is remarkably light (as you already anticipated) compared to its stainless steel counterparts that have a more hefty feel. This piece is definitely for the more devout (or even simply curious) titanium fans out there, especially given the sophistication of its various finishing techniques on the case and bracelet, which makes it feel even more premium.
Hodinkee
