The “trick” in Time+Tide’s 2021 review was the Zenith Chronomaster Sport’s black ceramic bezel: a design choice that, in reviewer Andrew McUtchen’s view, made the watch look like a Rolex Daytona at a glance. But the bezel also serves the Zenith’s unusually fast chronograph. Its El Primero 3600 turns the central chronograph hand once every 10 seconds, allowing the wearer to read tenths of a second against the bezel’s scale.
What the “trick from a rival” means
In a review published on 21 January 2021, Time+Tide founder Andrew McUtchen pointed to the Chronomaster Sport’s black ceramic bezel as the feature that recalled the Rolex Daytona reference 116500LN. That is the reviewer’s visual comparison, not a claim that the Zenith is a copy or that the watches share a movement.
The historical connection is real but specific: modified El Primero movements powered automatic Rolex Daytona models from 1988 to 2000. The 2021 review uses that history to frame the rivalry, then stresses that closer inspection reveals differences in both appearance and mechanics. Time+Tide’s review also disclosed that it was made in partnership with Zenith and that the author’s opinions were his own under the publication’s editorial policy.
How the bezel and 1/10-second chronograph work together
The bezel is more than a dark design accent. On the 2021 Chronomaster Sport, its black ceramic surface carries a 1/10-second scale that corresponds to the movement’s central chronograph hand. Start the chronograph, and that hand completes a full turn every 10 seconds; its position against the bezel’s graduations indicates tenths of a second.
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- Zenith Chronomaster Revival El Primero Chronograph Automatic White Dial Men's Watch 03.A384.400/21.C815
The El Primero 3600 runs at 36,000 vibrations per hour, or 5 Hz. Zenith describes the direct 1/10-second indication as a consequence of the movement’s architecture: the high-beat chronograph hand advances fast enough to make the tenth-second reading visible. Zenith’s current Chronomaster Sport collection page describes the El Primero 3600 and a 60-hour power reserve.
That combination explains why the bezel suits the watch mechanically as well as visually. The Daytona comparison is the memorable styling reference; the ten-second rotation and matching scale are the Chronomaster Sport’s defining chronograph display.
What the original 2021 watch offered
The reviewed model had a 41 mm case, a 60-hour power reserve and 100-metre water resistance, according to Time+Tide. Its launch-era prices were 9,900 CHF on a bracelet and 9,400 CHF on a Cordura-effect bracelet. Those are historical launch prices, not current retail or secondary-market quotes; the review does not establish today’s price.
These specifications describe the original 2021 watch covered by the review, not every Chronomaster Sport reference. In particular, later releases vary in bezel, dial, materials and water-resistance notation. Check the exact reference rather than assuming that the collection has one unchanging specification.
How later Chronomaster Sport releases differ
Zenith has expanded the line since the original launch. The meaningful distinctions are not just color: later models have changed bezel construction, dial architecture and case materials, and the 2026 releases added a bracelet clasp with micro-adjustment.
| Release | Key differences and stated specifications | Price or edition detail |
|---|---|---|
| Original reviewed model, 2021 | 41 mm case; black ceramic bezel with a 1/10-second scale; El Primero 3600; 60-hour reserve; 100-metre water resistance. Figures and description from Time+Tide’s 21 January 2021 review. | Launch-era prices: 9,900 CHF on bracelet and 9,400 CHF on Cordura-effect bracelet (Time+Tide, 2021); not current prices. |
| Blue metallic dial, 2023 | 41 mm steel case; polished steel bezel with black-filled markers rather than the original black ceramic bezel; El Primero 3600, 5 Hz, 60-hour reserve and 1/10-second chronograph. | Price not stated in the cited 10 October 2023 Zenith announcement. Zenith announcement, 10 October 2023. |
| Chronomaster Sport Skeleton, 2026, steel | 41 mm case; openworked tinted sapphire dial; El Primero 3600SK at 5 Hz; 60-hour reserve; 10 ATM water resistance; black- or green-ceramic-bezel steel versions. | Zenith announced 14,900 CHF / 16,500 EUR / 16,700 USD for the two steel versions on 14 April 2026. Zenith announcement, 14 April 2026. |
| Steel and rose-gold mother-of-pearl edition, 2026 | 41 mm case with steel and 18-carat rose-gold components; 60-hour reserve and 10 ATM water resistance, per the release’s key points. | Limited to 50 pieces; announced prices: 17,900 CHF / 20,200 EUR / 20,100 USD. The release’s technical table conflicts with its key points by printing “600 hours” for the reserve; the key points and other release information state 60 hours. Zenith announcement, 14 April 2026. |
The 2026 Skeleton models also introduced Zenith’s ZENCLASP folding clasp, which the brand says offers tool-free adjustment in 2.5 mm increments across a total 10 mm range. Zenith says the clasp can be adapted to Chronomaster Sport bracelets that were not originally equipped with it. That is the manufacturer’s compatibility claim; confirm fitment for the specific bracelet before relying on a retrofit.
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- Model 51.2080.400/69.C494
Zenith’s 2026 release also included rose-gold Skeleton versions, including a 10-piece diamond-set edition. Their prices are distinct from the steel Skeleton models’ announced prices; the steel figures above should not be applied to them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to judge the Daytona comparison
The comparison is useful if it stays in its lane. The black ceramic bezel gives the original Chronomaster Sport a visual resemblance that McUtchen noticed, while the ten-second chronograph rotation and direct tenth-second scale explain what the bezel does on the Zenith. The shared historical chapter—El Primero-derived movements in Daytona models from 1988 to 2000—adds context, but does not make the 2021 watches mechanically equivalent.
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- Model 03.2040.4061/23.C802
For anyone considering a Chronomaster Sport today, first identify the reference and release year. A blue-dial steel version with a polished steel bezel is materially different from the original ceramic-bezel model; a 2026 Skeleton has an openworked dial and a different movement designation, 3600SK. Prices and technical details belong to their specific versions and dates, not to the collection as a whole.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
