Latest news with #ElPrimero
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Zenith Updates The Original Triple Calendar With A Lapis Lazuli Dial
Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli Following its 2024 reintroduction, Zenith's Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar is now offered with a dial cut from natural lapis lazuli. It's a visually striking addition to the collection, combining deep blues and gold-toned pyrite speckles with the mechanical complexity of a full calendar chronograph. Striking blue dial The 38mm case remains true to the original A386 silhouette from 1969, with pump pushers, box-shaped sapphire crystal, and a well-balanced dial layout. Inside is the El Primero 3610, Zenith's latest high-frequency calibre, now with a 1/10th of a second chronograph. The chronograph hand makes a full sweep every 10 seconds, tracked on a silver-toned chapter ring, while the calendar functions are integrated across the dial with a moonphase display tucked inside the 60-minute totalizer at 6 o'clock. Sub-dial macro Each dial is unique due to the organic nature of the stone, but the overall layout remains consistent: silver-colored counters, day and month apertures at 11 and 2 o'clock, and a subtle date window at 4:30. The moonphase aperture adds to the celestial theme and rounds out the calendar complication. The watch comes mounted on a blue calfskin leather strap with a steel folding clasp, and also ships with a matching steel bracelet. At 14mm thick and 46mm lug-to-lug, the case proportions remain compact, with 5ATM of water resistance and a display back revealing the movement's star-shaped rotor and blue column wheel.
Stuff.tv
22-05-2025
- General
- Stuff.tv
My favourite Zenith watch has just been upgraded with a stunning stone dial
Zenith's Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar was already a beauty. It's genuinely one of my favourite watches. Compact, clever, and effortlessly elegant, it brought back the full-calendar chronograph format in a wearable 38mm case – complete with a moonphase and El Primero's signature 1/10th-of-a-second timing. But now? It's had a celestial glow-up. Meet the new Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli, which swaps the standard dial for a slab of deep blue stone speckled with natural pyrite. The result looks like a starlit sky – fitting, really, given Zenith's name was inspired by the night sky's highest point. Lapis lazuli isn't just pretty. It's unpredictable. Each piece has a slightly different constellation of gold-flecked inclusions, meaning no two dials – and no two watches – will ever be the same. That's a nice contrast to the symmetry of the triple calendar layout, which includes day, date, month, moonphase, and a full chronograph. The layout remains tidy and legible: day and month appear up top, the moonphase tucks inside the chronograph minute counter at six, and the date sits discreetly between four and five. Silver sub-dials and chapter ring pop against the inky blue background, making this feel more functional than fussy. The case is pure vintage Zenith – inspired by 1969's A386, with pump pushers, sharp lugs, and a box sapphire crystal. Under the hood is the El Primero 3610 calibre, ticking at 5Hz with a 60-hour power reserve and a stopwatch hand that whips around the dial every 10 seconds. The sapphire case back shows off a star-emblazoned rotor and a flash of blue on the column wheel, in case you weren't already sold on the colour theme. It ships on a blue leather strap, but there's also a matching steel bracelet in the box. At $22,700 (or £20,500), it's priced firmly in dream territory (for me, anyway), but if you're a fan of chronographs, calendars, or cosmic dials, this might be the best version yet of one of Zenith's most quietly brilliant watches. Liked this? The Omega Railmaster returns and I'm having trouble picking a favourite
CNA
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
Better together: Why these watch collaborations stand out
Fine watchmaking has a reputation for being a little aloof. Blame the eye-watering price tags, the never-ending heritage flexing, and the kind of technical jargon that makes you wish you'd paid more attention in physics class. But horology also has a friendly side; there are brands that delight in collaboration – both within and beyond the watch world – and while the results can be unexpected, they are always a great deal of fun. ZENITH X PORTER Leaving the country is, ironically, something of a national pastime, and you'll want this Zenith and Porter collaboration for your next weekend escape. Porter is the cult Japanese label under Yoshida & Co, known for its well-crafted, functional bags, and this partnership yields two models in Zenith's longest-running collection: The Pilot Automatic Porter and the Pilot Big Date Flyback Porter, both clad in a ceramic case of olive green – or 'khaki', as Porter devotees would recognise. The time-and-date model comes in at 40mm and is powered by the El Primero 3620, while its complicated cousin measures 42.5mm and runs on the El Primero 3652. Both feature grooved dials co-signed by Zenith and Porter, with bright orange hands – a nod to the cheery linings of Porter bags, which themselves are inspired by high-visibility interiors of aviation jackets. Each watch comes with two straps: One in military-leaning nylon (complete with orange Velcro accents and Porter's stitched logo), the other a Cordura-effect rubber strap with a black PVD steel folding buckle, and these can be switched easily thanks to a quick-release system. Naturally, the packaging is part of the experience: The watch box nestles inside a Porter messenger bag, khaki on the outside and Zenith blue within. Each model is limited to 500 pieces. ULYSSE NARDIN X AMOUREUXPEINTRE Kyrgyzstan-born designer Vsevolod Sever Cherepanov – a name as layered as his resume – has done the rounds in fashion and interiors, collaborating with the likes of Nike and Alyx, launching his own brands Sever and Genesis, and overseeing his own creative studios Home 2.0 and Solutions 2.0. His aesthetic? Stark minimalism, monochrome moods, and a deep commitment to upcycling. Now he's taken his pared-back philosophy to the world of horology with the Ulysse Nardin Blast [Amoureuxpeintre], a limited edition of just 29 pieces. The 42mm case and bezel are rendered in sandblasted titanium, and the sapphire crystal is frosted front and back using a precision laser technique, with a smoky fume effect achieved through delicate metallisation. It took two years of development to get the effect just right, and the result is a kind of intentional blur, like a half-remembered dream. Beneath the veil is the skeletonised Calibre UN-371, though you'll probably have to squint to see it. MB&F X BVLGARI When MB&F and Bvlgari first teamed up in 2021 for the LM FlyingT Allegra, it was a feminine fever dream of flying tourbillons and rainbow jewels. But don't expect a sparkling sequel – their second collaboration, though inspired by the jewellery brand's Serpenti, is a far more technical looking piece. The case resembles a streamlined automobile – no accident, given that both MB&F founder Maximilian Busser and Bvlgari's watchmaking chief Fabrizio Buonamassa Stigliani are self-confessed petrol heads. Curved sapphire crystal 'windows' offer clear views of the movement inside, which is based on MB&F's HM10 calibre. The serpent's 'eyes' double as domed hour and minute displays, machined from aluminium to keep things light, while its 'brain' is the oversized 14mm flying balance wheel, held in place by a balance bridge engraved with both brands' names. The movement has also been decorated with the Serpenti's hexagonal scales, giving the impression of a car grille. At the rear lugs, two crowns styled like car wheels let you set the time and wind the movement respectively. Three versions are available, each limited to 33 pieces: One in titanium with blue eye domes, another in 18k rose gold with green, and a third in black PVD-coated stainless steel with red accents. LOUIS VUITTON X KARI VOUTILAINEN Louis Vuitton may be a fashion juggernaut, but when it comes to watchmaking, it has a soft spot for the little guys. In 2023, the maison launched the Louis Vuitton Prize for Independent Creatives, a biennial award complete with a cash grant and a one-year mentorship at La Fabrique du Temps Louis Vuitton. That same year, it kicked off a new series of high-profile collaborations, debuting with Rexhep Rexhepi and a wildly complicated double-faced chiming chronograph. For round two, Louis Vuitton reached out to Kari Voutilainen, another horological maverick and a jury member of said prize, making this collaboration feel a little like a 'here's how it's done, kids' demo. The watch is the LVKV-02 GMR 6, a globe-trotting GMT with roots in last year's Louis Vuitton Escale watches and all the visual opulence one can expect when Vuitton and Voutilainen shake hands. While mechanically not in the same league as Rexhepi's monster of a movement, the LVKV-02 GMR 6 is a visual show-stopper. The dial alone is a four-part masterclass in craft. The outer hour ring features 28 colours and took 32 hours of painting and another eight hours of kiln time to achieve its stained-glass glow – all courtesy of Louis Vuitton's metiers d'art workshop. The centre dial bears Voutilainen's signature guilloche, riffing on LV's iconic Damier pattern and executed using 18th-century machinery. Voutilainen's team was also responsible for the hand-engraved sun and moon of the day/night indicator, as well as the design, assembly, and finishing of the movement, though Louis Vuitton contributed a final psychedelic flourish with the hand-painted mainspring barrel. Only five pieces will be made, and yes, each one will arrive in a custom Louis Vuitton travel trunk, hand-painted to match the dial and cheerfully signed off with: 'Louis cruises with Kari.' SARPANEVA X MOOMIN Five years ago, Finland's most poetic watchmaker paid tribute to Finland's most beloved fictional family. To mark the 75th anniversary of the Moomins, Stepan Sarpaneva created a charming homage under his more accessible SUF Helsinki label to sell-out success. So he turned up the horological volume the next year, releasing a higher-end version under the Sarpaneva name, complete with layered, hand-painted dials and his signature scalloped case. Now, with the Moomins turning 80, Sarpaneva returns with yet another endearing edition, available in two variants: A monochrome dial or a multi-coloured version. Both feature a three-part dial depicting a scene from Comet in Moominland (1946), an odd choice for an anniversary tribute given its slightly apocalyptic plot, but is charming nonetheless. Especially since the model adds a 'shooting star' aperture between 11 and 1 o'clock that houses a dragging hours display that sweeps the heavens in slow motion. The fairy tale feel intensifies as night falls. Thanks to 10 different shades of Super-LumiNova hidden throughout the scene, both versions transform after dark into miniature, glowing dreamscapes. Each version is limited to just 30 pieces. LOUIS ERARD X SYLVIE FLEURY It's practically de rigueur for an artist to subvert everyday notions of everyday things. For Swiss artist Sylvie Fleury, she's directed that irreverent spirit into contemporary sculptures featuring everything from makeup to shopping bags. As it turns out, makeup palettes also make excellent watch dials. Especially when paired with the clean, vertical 'three in line' layout of Louis Erard's Le Regulateur. In the Le Regulateur Palette of Shadows, the glossy black dial serves as a dramatic backdrop for two recessed subdials: In coral for the hours and magenta for the seconds. Each subdial features a matching hand, while the central minute hand stays black. The case is 39mm in black PVD-coated steel, paired with black calf leather strap. Limited to 178 pieces, and not for the beige-of-heart. RADO X TEJ CHAUHAN When Rado launched the DiaStar in 1961, it looked like it had been teleported from the future. We're now in that future – and it still looks like something from another timeline. That's part of the charm: It has never quite fit in, and doesn't plan to start now. For this new limited edition, British industrial designer Tej Chauhan brings his signature retro-futurist flair to the DiaStar, dialling up the fun without sacrificing its oddball appeal. It's the perfect sequel to bright yellow Rado True Square he reimagined in 2020, which had a radar-patterned dial and plenty of popping colour. Now, the DiaStar gets a yellow gold-coloured PVD-coated steel case, a Ceramos bezel, and a pillowy light grey rubber strap. Between 9 and 12 o'clock, the scale is highlighted in bright cyan – Chauhan's creative peak (or, depending on your lifestyle, peak party hours). The day-date display at 3 o'clock is wonderfully eccentric: Each day of the week appears in a different custom font and colour, while the date glows in neon red. Flip it over and you'll find Chauhan's logo on the caseback, along with a peekaboo sapphire window showing the R764 automatic movement.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Watch This Elegantly Complicated Has No Right to Be So Compact
Zenith mirrors its 1969 Chronomaster with perfect proportions, multiple complications and a precious metal. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more No other watch brand can seamlessly blend a classy moon phase calendar complication and a sporty racing chronograph like Zenith. The new Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar mirrors the case proportions of the A386 line from 1969, the first watches to house the El Primero chronograph movement. While this multiple-complication Chronomaster dates back to the 1970s, it was reintroduced in 2024 with a compact 38mm case. The steel versions released last year were impressive enough, but the new rose gold and black Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar adds a measure of vintage sophistication. Coming off an impressive run at Watches and Wonders 2025, Zenith appears to have saved its most wearable and approachable, if not quite affordable, new watch for after the dust settled. It may not have the name recognition of the Rolex Daytona or Omega Speedmaster, but for chronograph aficionados, the Zenith El Primero is second to none. Its 1/10th second register and high-beat 36,000vph accuracy are top of the class. What's more, Zenith has consistently demonstrated an exceptional aptitude for geometric balance and proportioning in its dial layouts. Adding a day, month and moon phase to an already busy dial could muck things up, but not with Zenith. A date window already existed at 4:30 in the El Primero template, so small day and month windows are masterfully placed right above the rose gold-plated running seconds register at nine o'clock and the rose gold-plated chronograph seconds register at three o'clock. The moon phase is incorporated into the rose gold-plated chronograph minutes register at six o'clock through a crescent moon-shaped cut-out in the dial. Unlike most chronographs, the central second hand on the El Primero makes a complete revolution every 10 seconds. A rose gold-plated 1/10th-second chapter ring counts to 100, while a black chapter ring placed outside measures the elapsed time in tenths of a second. Despite the precious metal, the new Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar is subdued by today's luxury watch standards. The 18-karat rose gold is warm and balanced out by black on the dial and leather strap. The 38mm case size creates a discrete silhouette that doesn't jump off the wrist like many audacious luxury watches. Its luster is muffled further by the sporty dial layout that, even with the added calendar compilation, echoes 1970s racing chronographs. Quiet luxury has negative connotations of flavorless neutral colors and bland design. Still, this watch fits the traditional definition in that it is unassuming to the untrained eye and has a luxurious price and pedigree. Even with the addition of a precious metal, this Zenith chronograph maintains the brand's IYKYK reputation. The impressive combination of complications is tucked away in a compact case that doesn't disclose its value, making it an excellent humble-flex. The Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar in 18-karat rose gold is available now from Zenith and authorized dealers for $26,300. Steel versions of the Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar are still available and, depending on the strap, cost between $13,400 and $13,900. $26,300 at Zenith
Stuff.tv
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
The Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Chronograph gets a rose gold makeover
Hot on the heels of a standout showing at Watches and Wonders – and riding the buzz of its record-breaking G.F.J. calibre – Zenith has added a new layer of luxury to its Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Chronograph. The sleek 38mm model, which made its comeback last year in stainless steel (and is one of the brand's best watches, in my opinion), now arrives dressed to impress in full 18-ct rose gold. This isn't just a pretty face, though. The triple calendar Chronomaster is one of the most intricate takes on Zenith's legendary El Primero movement – a high-frequency calibre that was always intended to carry more than just a stopwatch function. As early as 1970, Zenith was already playing with prototypes that married the chronograph with day, date, month and moonphase indicators. Reborn in 2024, the current Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar stays true to that vision. The design nods back to the classic A386, with a boxy sapphire crystal, tapered lugs and pump-style pushers that wouldn't look out of place in a vintage catalogue. The dial layout is sharp and balanced: day and month windows sit at 11 and 2 o'clock, the date nestles at 4:30, and the moonphase tucks neatly into the chronograph's 6 o'clock sub-dial. Now, in rose gold, the watch dials up the drama. A black dial sets off the warm case tones, with matching rose gold indexes and sub-dials creating just the right amount of contrast. SuperLuminova on the hands and markers keeps it readable, even when the lights go down. Powering it all is the El Primero 3610 calibre – a 5Hz movement that tracks tenths of a second, with a chronograph hand that races round the dial in just 10 seconds. Despite the added complexity of a full calendar, you still get a 60-hour power reserve and a full view of the movement through the sapphire case back. The price? $26,300 / £23,900. It's available now via Zenith boutiques, online and selected retailers. Liked this? The Christopher Ward C12 Loco arrives with a new in-house calibre and seriously desirable styling
