Time, Reimagined: Zenith’s CHRONOMASTER Triple Calendar is a Lesson in Modern Cool

When Zenith reintroduced the CHRONOMASTER Original Triple Calendar earlier this year, watch fans knew it wasn’t just a nod to the past—it was a masterclass in balance: heritage and innovation, form and function, mechanical muscle and refined aesthetics. Now, that balance gets a dramatic new look. The latest version of the CHRONOMASTER Original Triple Calendar arrives clad in black and rose gold, and it’s downright magnetic.

This is not your average “vintage-inspired” reissue. Sure, the 38mm case draws from the iconic A386 silhouette launched in 1969, with its boxy sapphire crystal, pump-style pushers, and perfectly proportioned lugs. But the real flex here is what’s happening under the hood—and how Zenith has layered complexity and clarity in equal measure.

For those unfamiliar with this sleeper complication, the triple calendar chronograph isn’t just a side quest in El Primero’s legacy—it’s part of the origin story. Back in 1970, Zenith developed a run of 25 prototypes that integrated moonphase and full calendar functions into its famously precise high-frequency chronograph movement. The groundwork was always there. 2024 simply brought it back into the spotlight.

The dial is a work of ergonomic design. Legibility is king: day and month windows are tucked neatly at 11 and 2 o’clock, the date peeks through the El Primero-signature 04:30 position, and the moonphase, ever poetic, makes its home inside the chronograph minute counter at 6. It’s complex on paper, seamless on the wrist.

And now, it’s all dressed in 18-carat rose gold and paired with a black dial that doesn’t just anchor the look—it elevates it. This isn’t flashy; it’s confident. The contrast is rich and refined, echoed in the matching gold chronograph subdials, indexes, and hands. SuperLuminova SLN C1 on the faceted markers ensures it’s as functional at dusk as it is at noon.

Inside, the watch is driven by the El Primero 3610 calibre. This movement doesn’t just track time—it sprints through it. Beating at 5Hz, it delivers true 1/10th of a second timing with the central chronograph hand spinning around the dial in just 10 seconds. Even with the full calendar in play, the power reserve holds strong at 60 hours. Through the sapphire display caseback, you’ll spot the movement’s blue column wheel and open rotor adorned with Zenith’s five-pointed star—proof that beauty can lie in the mechanics, too.

Secured on a black calfskin strap with a matching rose gold folding clasp, this piece is far from just another collector’s edition. It’s a signal: Zenith knows exactly how to push tradition into new territory without breaking its rhythm.

The CHRONOMASTER Original Triple Calendar in rose gold is available now at Zenith boutiques, online, and through authorised retailers.

Looking for a watch that actually keeps up with you? This one doesn’t just tick—it speaks.