New Release: Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple-Calendar Lapis Lazuli
As Zenith’s 160th anniversary celebrations draw to a close, the watch aficionado community has been delighted with an impressive array of commemorative models in the brand’s signature rich blue hue. Whether it’s an all-blue case or a gorgeous blue sapphire dial, the color is everywhere in Zenith’s 2025 lineup. In this latest release, Zenith has incorporated this evocative hue into one of its most exquisite chronographs. While the new Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple-Calendar Lapis Lazuli isn’t the most technically innovative or revolutionary model in the brand’s anniversary collection, it is certainly one of the most stunning, with a stunning sapphire dial and a layered, nuanced presentation.
Although the Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple-Calendar Lapis Lazuli shares its 38mm stainless steel case with many of the Chronomaster Original collection, it still has an attractive and sophisticated design in pictures. It strikes a balance between tradition and the unexpected, with classic tapered sport lugs set against a nearly bezel-less, domed sapphire crystal. In photos, it presents a compact, full-dial look, with the finishing really shining through. The upper surface of the lugs features a distinctive sunburst brushed pattern, contrasting with the mirror polish on the tapered chamfers and vertical case sides. As with other classic El Primero models, a set of piston pushers and a five-pointed star on the crown complete the look. On the back, the Chronomaster Original Triple-Calendar Lapis Lazuli features a sapphire crystal caseback, and Zenith rates the fake luxury watch for a disappointing 50 meters of water resistance.
Of course, the highlight of the Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple-Calendar Lapis Lazuli is its stunning eponymous gemstone dial. It’s easy to make this complex dial layout even more complex by combining it with a more dramatic pattern or dial texture, but the real success of the lapis lazuli main dial lies in its subtle variations. The dial is a highly saturated royal blue with countless tiny highlights and shadows, and in the photo, a few tasteful gold trinkets.
While it wouldn’t be hard to paint the entire dial lapis lazuli and call it a day, Zenith went for a more complex, layered presentation. The silver Azurage subdials and the recessed white central minute track are the most obvious examples, but on closer inspection, up to six separate visual layers can be seen in the photo. The day of the week at 10 o’clock, the month at 2 o’clock, and the always controversial date at 4:30 form the lowest level of this stepped design, with the outer blue 1/10 second scale located between the minute ring and the main dial surface. The subdials also provide their own intermediate level, with an additional notch at 6 o’clock to integrate the moon phase display. This complication also stands out in photos, with a rich denim blue sunburst pattern forming a background for the mirror-polished stars and moon. Despite the numerous finishes, colors and complications, this dial avoids feeling cluttered and maintains an overall cohesiveness, which is an achievement in itself.
Zenith equips the Chronomaster Original Triple Calendar Lapis Lazuli with its in-house developed El Primero 3610 automatic winding triple calendar chronograph movement. Combining an already complex high-frequency column-wheel El Primero chronograph platform with a 10-second central chronograph hand rotation, a complete calendar display and a moon phase display is no easy feat, but despite this complexity, the El Primero 3610 performs exceptionally well. A robust 60-hour power reserve, coupled with the collection’s signature 36,000 vph frequency, rounds out its specifications. In keeping with the blue theme, Zenith pairs the watch with a simple midnight blue calfskin folding strap, keeping the visual focus on the dial.
So far, 2025 has been a classic year for replica Zenith blue watch design. As the brand approaches the midpoint of its 160th anniversary celebrations, the introduction of blue models shows no signs of stopping. Although the Zenith Chronomaster Original Triple-Calendar Lapis Lazuli is largely based on an existing platform, it is perhaps the most attractive Zenith commemorative watch to date, with its meticulous and varied finishing perfectly matched to one of the brand’s most powerful movements.
