Zenith is preparing to reposition itself as a manufacturer of high-end, low-volume timepieces, a shift that follows the September release of the Chronomaster Solo Sport.
The brand, known for its historic dial, aims to move toward haute-horlogerie models as part of a restructuring plan set to conclude in 2029, according to a report by the Financial Times. The Chronomaster Solo Sport serves as an entry point to the brand’s mechanical heritage, built around the El Primero movement. First announced in January 1969, the El Primero was the world’s first self-winding chronograph. The new model adapts this movement into a three-hand, time-only configuration while maintaining a 5Hz frequency, which translates to 36,000 oscillations per hour. This high-frequency operation allows the seconds hand to move more smoothly than in standard 4Hz movements, while the watch retains 60 hours of power reserve.
The watch features a 40mm steel case with a ceramic bezel and a sapphire crystal case back. Water-resistant to 200 meters, the timepiece also introduces a 41-piece “Zenclasp” fitting that provides up to 10mm of adjustment on the bracelet.
Despite these technical specifications and a unidirectional bezel, the manufacturer describes the watch as an everyday timepiece rather than a dedicated dive watch. Pricing for the Chronomaster Solo Sport is set at £9,700 for the date version and £8,700 for the no-date model. The current catalog and the brand’s production focus will change significantly by the time the restructuring is finalized in 2029.
The Chronomaster Solo Sport is available in black, white, or brown ceramic dials, each featuring the brand’s interlocking “Zs” symbol. The minute track utilizes a “shark’s tooth” design, a detail revived from vintage Zenith dive watches.
Because the company is transitioning its business model toward exclusive, limited-production pieces, the current generation of the Chronomaster Solo Sport will not be part of the brand’s future lineup after the 2029 restructuring deadline.
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