Zenith revives the El Primero Triple Calendar model

Antonio Ljubic
5 days ago
2 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Although the Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar was officially launched last year, it is a watch that simply cannot be ignored. The watch retains the familiar lines of the Chronomaster Original with a compact 38 mm case inspired by retro aesthetics, and the new edition brings a new complication: a full calendar with a display of the day, month and moon phases.

Zenith revives the El Primero Triple Calendar in a modern edition

Mechanism

Everything is powered by the high-frequency El Primero 3610 mechanism, which, in addition to the chronograph, also enables a "lightning" central seconds hand that makes a full circle every ten seconds, enabling precise measurements to one tenth. The watch is available in three dial variants, white, gray and an exclusive green available only at Zenith retail stores.

Design

Although often overshadowed by the sporty Chronomaster Sport, a watch that has often been compared to the Rolex Daytona due to its design, the Chronomaster Original brings a more pronounced vintage charm and more balanced proportions. The new triple calendar version further emphasizes this appeal, as its design is reminiscent of a rare prototype from 1970.

The layout of the calendar indicators remains faithful to the original, with the day and month above the subdials and the moon phases within the lower register at six o'clock. The date window is located between four and five o'clock. Despite the mechanical complexity, the case remains relatively thin at 12.6 mm, with a power reserve of 60 hours.

At $13,400 for the leather strap version or $13,900 for the steel bracelet model, this watch is significantly more expensive than the basic Chronomaster Original, about 30 percent more. However, the combination of a chronograph with a full calendar and moon phases is extremely rare in today's offerings, especially with this level of mechanics.