Meteorite dials have become watchmaking’s ultimate flex, but also a way for brands to charge premium prices while claiming each piece is unique. But Zenith’s approach with the new Chronomaster Sport Meteorite is a bit different. Rather than slapping exotic materials onto a mediocre watch, they’ve applied an actual meteorite to what’s already one of the finest sports chronographs available. The result showcases the naturally occurring Widmanstätten, which was formed over millions of years in space, but more importantly, it enhances a timepiece that was already earning serious respect among collectors.
A Heritage Worth Talking About
Zenith’s chronograph story begins in 1969 with the El Primero — the world’s first automatic chronograph movement with the ability to measure to 1/10th of a second. While other brands were scrambling during the quartz crisis, Zenith’s legendary watchmaker Charles Vermot literally hid the El Primero’s tooling to preserve it for future generations. That foresight paid off when Rolex came knocking, using El Primero movements in their Daytonas for over a decade.
The modern Chronomaster Sport launched in 2021 and quickly earned the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève’s “Chronograph” prize. It’s become Zenith’s flagship sports watch, and frankly, it deserves the recognition. The proportions are spot-on at 41mm, and the ceramic bezel with its 1/10th-second graduations actually corresponds to the movement’s high-frequency capabilities.
Space-Age Materials
Each meteorite dial starts its journey millions of years ago in space before crash-landing on Earth and eventually finding its way to Zenith’s workshop in Le Locle. The hand-finishing process reveals those distinctive Widmanstätten patterns, meaning no two watches are identical. Against this galactic backdrop, Zenith’s signature tri-color subdials appear in silver, light grey, and anthracite — a more monochromatic take than the usual blue-accented version, but it works perfectly with the meteorite’s natural tones.
The case retains the DNA of the 1969 A386 original with those pump-style pushers and clean lines. Water resistance is at 100m, which should cover most situations short of deep-sea exploration. The black ceramic bezel not only looks sharp but serves a functional purpose, allowing you to track elapsed time in 1/10th-second increments thanks to the movement’s 36,000 VpH frequency.
The Heart of the Matter
Inside beats the El Primero 3600, the latest evolution of that legendary 1969 caliber. The 5Hz frequency means the central chronograph hand completes a full rotation every 10 seconds rather than the typical 60 — a party trick that never gets old. Power reserve hits 60 hours, and the silicon escape wheel adds modern reliability to the vintage-inspired design.
The movement is visible through the exhibition sapphire caseback, which reveals Zenith’s attention to detail on the star-shaped rotor, blue column wheel, and refined finishing.
Lastly, the watch comes on both a steel bracelet and a black rubber strap, giving you options depending on whether you’re heading to the boardroom or the beach.
Spec Sheet
Model: Chronomaster Sport Meteorite
Case Material: Stainless steel
Case Size: 41mm
Case Thickness: 13.6mm
Movement: El Primero 3600 (automatic, 36,000 VpH)
Water Resistance: 100m
Straps: Steel bracelet and black rubber strap
Limited Edition?: No
Pricing & Availability
Available now from Zenith boutiques, the Chronomaster Sport Meteorite is priced at $17,500 — about $6k more than the standard Chronomaster Sport.
Recap
Zenith Chronomaster Sport Meteorite
Zenith takes the already exceptional Chronomaster Sport chronograph, which won the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, and enhances it with a genuine meteorite dial featuring unique Widmanstätten patterns.
