In addition, Zenith has altered the shape of the dial opening, adding circular openings with chamfered edges instead of the former version’s applied metallic frame with blued screws. The transparency of the crystal allows the viewer to see into purple silicon star-shaped escape wheel. Here, Zenith retains the small seconds counter at 9 o’clock (which was absent in the original Chronomaster Open), remaking it with a clear hesalite crystal. Now presented in a more wrist-friendly 39.5mm steel or rose gold case, the new Chronomaster Open revisits the well-known three-color Zenith Chronomaster layout but with several new elements added. The new watch, which is Zenith’s Watches and Wonders 2022 highlight, is lighter in several ways when compared to its forebears and the previous Chronomaster Open collection. Veteran collectors might remember the Chronomaster Open’s 2003 debut, which featured a larger case and a multi-aperture view into an earlier El Primero movement. This Zenith Chronomaster Open is a boutique edition, available exclusively through their online store.Zenith modernizes its Chronomaster Open collection with a new El Primero movement, a hesalite seconds counter and a smaller case diameter. The Zenith Chronomaster Open pricing and availability: You never quite get used to seeing the central seconds hand move as fast as it does, allowing you to make those measurements accurate to one tenth of a second. The escapement makes use of silicon for the escape wheel and pallet lever, improving durability, friction, and anti-magnetism properties. The movement is of course the El Primero - specifically the 3604 calibre with integrated automatic winding, a 36,000 high beat rate, and approximately 60 hours of power reserve. The case rides that line between sporty and elegant with a polished bezel and chamfered edges to contrast its brushed surfaces. An average wrist won’t struggle with this watch, however those with smaller wrists may find it a little bit of overhang. It’s 39.5mm in diameter and 13.1mm thick, although the lug-to-lug length is still relatively long at 45.2mm. In terms of dimensions, the Zenith Chronomaster Open follows the new generation of smaller Chronomaster sizing. The Zenith El Primero logo and star has also had to be moved off-centre, but the dial still remains balanced. Some of the applied hour markers, filled with black and luminous sections, have had to be removed to make way for the open heart, so white printed squares have taken their place at 9, 10, and 11. A chapter ring has markings for you to accurately time within tenths of a second, and the other printed minute markers are kept to the dial’s perimeter. The running seconds is still very much useable, thanks to a polymer disk with printed markings overlaying the cutout.Īside from the open heart, the rest of the Zenith Chronomaster Open’s dial is captivating too, with a bright sunburst blue that evokes a clear sky. Given that the movement parts are silver, the tri-tone theme is retained for the grey subdials. The three circular cutouts meanwhile cascade into one another, making the usual Chronomaster triple-register subdials look like a train of gears. Other parts of the escapement are visible - the assembly that controls how power from the mainspring is released and regulated into a timekeeping beat. The first thing to notice on the Zenith Chronomaster Open is that there’s much more on display than just the balance wheel. The latest addition to the Zenith Chronomaster Open collection delivers on every aspect, while tightening the proportions and retaining more functionality. Although the luxury market tends to prefer pure skeletonisation, Zenith are taking a bold shot at reclaiming the open heart having already proven themselves as masters of the skeleton. For the last few decades, watch snobs have dismissed open heart dials because of how often they appear on lower-end mechanical watches, sometimes as imitations of tourbillons or placed seemingly at random. The concept of the open heart dial is nothing new, but it’s not necessarily a popular one. I/trending 10352 INTRODUCING: The Zenith Chronomaster Open Boutique Edition Fergus Nash
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