Zenith’s Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli brings together the brand’s deep-rooted watchmaking heritage and a celestial aesthetic. Founded in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, Switzerland, Zenith built its reputation on precision and innovation—most notably with the 1969 launch of the El Primero automatic chronograph. Today’s Chronomaster collection carries forward that legacy, blending high-frequency mechanics with classic design cues. This latest iteration dresses the watch in an eye-catching lapis lazuli dial, a natural stone whose deep blue hue and gold-colored pyrite specks evoke a starry sky. Due to the special nature of the gemstone, no two dials are identical, offering a subtle touch of individuality.
The Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli is presented in a 38 mm stainless-steel case that measures 14 mm thick and spans 46 mm lug-to-lug. Its dimensions strike a balance between vintage inspiration and modern wrist presence—compact enough for most wrists, yet substantial enough to host multiple complications. The design echoes the 1969 A386 with its pump-style pushers, tapered lugs, and a raised, box-shaped sapphire crystal. The slightly domed crystal enhances the dial’s depth and offers distortion-free legibility at oblique angles. Finishing is restrained but effective: brushed surfaces on the top of the lugs contrast with polished case sides, lending a subtle play of light. The screw-down caseback—with a sapphire window—exposes the movement and its blue column wheel, offering a glimpse of the El Primero 3610’s architecture. Water resistance is rated at 5 ATM (50 m), sufficient for daily wear but limiting for swimming or diving.
The star of this release is undoubtedly the lapis lazuli dial. Mined for centuries as a prized gemstone, lapis lazuli offers a deep, irregular blue scattered with gold-colored pyrite inclusions—each dial is inherently unique. Zenith has paired this material with three silver-toned subdials: a small seconds at 9 o’clock, a 60-minute chronograph counter with integrated moon-phase display at 6 o’clock, and a 60-second counter at 3 o’clock. A pale silver chapter ring delineates 1/10th-of-a-second graduations, allowing the central chronograph hand to complete a full rotation in 10 seconds. Hour markers and hands are rhodium-plated and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1, providing hands-on visibility in low light. The calendar displays are neatly arranged: day and month apertures at 11 and 2 o’clock, and a discreet date window at 4:30.
Powering the watch is Zenith’s in-house El Primero 3610 automatic calibre, an evolution of the legendary high-frequency chronograph first introduced in 1969. Running at 36,000 VpH (5 Hz), it drives a central chronograph hand that completes one revolution in 10 seconds, enabling precise 1/10th-of-a-second timing. The movement also manages a complete calendar—day, date, month—and a moon-phase display, seamlessly integrated within the chronograph infrastructure. The 3610 offers a 60-hour power reserve, up from the original El Primero’s roughly 50 hours, and features a stop-seconds mechanism for exact time-setting. Finishing includes a star-shaped, open-worked rotor with a satined surface and the Zenith five-pointed star emblazoned prominently. A blue column wheel adds a dash of color and underscores the sophistication of the chronograph’s actuation system.
The Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli is offered with two attachment options: a blue calfskin leather strap and a matching stainless-steel bracelet, both secured by folding clasps. The leather strap echoes the dial’s tone, accentuating the watch’s celestial theme. Its quick-release spring bars simplify strap changes and the folding clasp provides a secure closure, though some may find the steel clasp on leather a touch bulky for dressier contexts. The accompanying steel bracelet mirrors the case’s finishing—brushed link centers edged by polished sides—and tapers gently towards the clasp. Its folding mechanism is sturdy, with a micro-adjustment feature built into the clasp that permits minor length adjustments without tools.
The Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli is priced at CHF 21,900, € 23,700 or USD 22,700. It is available through Zenith boutiques, the brand’s official website and authorized retailers worldwide. Given its natural stone dial, production numbers are inherently limited, and models may vary subtly in dial pattern. At this price point, the watch competes against other high-frequency column-wheel chronographs with calendar functions from rivals such as Omega and Breitling. Warranty terms align with Zenith’s standard two-year international coverage, extendable through registration online.
