ZENITH GRANDE CHRONOMASTER XXT TOURBILLON CHRONOGRAPH

Zenith management is thinking big, both figuratively and literally. The popularity of Zenith has exploded beyond the ranks of watch enthusiasts over the last five years, as Zenith cranks up their marketing and turns out increasingly eye-catching designs. The good news for watch cognoscenti is that Zenith is still making use of their famous El Primero chronograph caliber, arguably the highest quality serially produced chronograph caliber in history.

This watch is one of Zenith's elite products. Featuring an exposed tourbillon and 12 hour chronograph version of the El Primero, this movement is produced completely in Zenith's ateliers. This particular caliber bears the reference number 4005, with 35 jewels, beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour and the tourbillon rotates once every 60 seconds.

Case is 18k rose gold, 45mm diameter and is massive in construction. Sapphire crystals front and back.

Dial is complex and very nicely done. Hour markers are massive arrows applied on a brushed silver surface. There is a sunken inner dial with guilloche where the hours, minutes and seconds hands are located, along with the chronograph minutes and hours subdials. The tourbillon is visible through the cut-out in the upper-left area of the dial, and is mounted on a rose gold bridge. The date is displayed on a wheel that revolves around the tourbillon, and is indicated against the "Date" arrow mounted in the center of the dial.

Strap is hand sewn black crocodile (and is very nice) with a Zenith 18k rose gold deployant clasp.

Watch is brand new with box and papers. Retail price is $115,000.