Zenith Expands Its G.F.J. Collection At Watches and Wonders 2026
Also unveiling the Chronomaster Sport MOP and the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton Chronograph.
Summary
- Zenith debuts G.F.J. Bloodstone and Tantalum models housing the legendary re-engineered Calibre 135 at Watches and Wonders Geneva
- The Chronomaster Sport adds two-tone mother-of-pearl and high-performance openworked skeleton architectures
- The innovative ZENCLASP™ introduces an ergonomic design with precise, tool-free micro-adjustments
At Watches and Wonders 2026, Zenith reinforces its standing as the “Heart of Watchmaking” by bridging the gap between its storied past in Le Locle and a future defined by high-frequency precision. For over 160 years, the Manufacture has been driven by a pioneering spirit that birthed icons like the El Primero, the world’s first integrated automatic high-frequency chronograph. This year’s novelties extend that legacy, evolving the Chronomaster Sport collection into more versatile and transparent territories while giving the legendary Calibre 135 a contemporary, permanent home within the G.F.J. collection — named for founder Georges Favre-Jacot. By blending exacting mechanical architecture with rare mineral dials and metals, Zenith underscores its commitment to those who challenge conventions through both technical innovation and artisanal mastery.
G.F.J. Bloodstone
Following the award-winning revival of the collection in 2025, the G.F.J. returns to Watches and Wonders as a statement of intent, moving beyond commemoration to become a permanent pillar of pure chronometry. This latest iteration finds a warmer, more luminous presence in an 18-carat yellow gold case, framing a dial that is as much a mineral study as it is a timekeeping instrument. The central disc is crafted from bloodstone – a variety of green jasper whose natural red veining ensures that no two pieces are identical – balanced by an oversized mother-of-pearl small seconds counter and a peripheral guilloché sector inspired by the brick façade of the Zenith Manufacture.
At its core, the re-engineered Calibre 135 continues its unfolding story, delivering official COSC-certified precision within +/- 2 seconds per day. While the movement maintains its classic 18,000 vph frequency and signature oversized balance wheel, modern refinements have pushed the power reserve to 72 hours. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the hand-wound movement features contemporary dark ruthenium-finished bridges accented by yellow gold-colored engravings, elevating mechanical structure into a philosophy of design. This 161-piece limited edition is available for pre-order at 48,900 CHF /$51,900 USD.
G.F.J. Tantalum
In its rarest form to date, the G.F.J. embraces the material constraints of tantalum, a notoriously difficult metal to machine that lends the chronometer a quiet intensity. The 39.5mm case exhibits a subdued, blue-grey metallic hue that is neither reflective nor matte, housing the most awarded observatory chronometer movement in history. The dial continues this study in depth and discipline with a central disc of polished black onyx, punctuated by eleven trapeze-cut diamond indexes and slender white gold hands that emphasize architectural restraint.
The Calibre 135-0, which famously secured 235 chronometry prizes during its original competition era, has been reimagined for the 21st century with a ruthenium finish that echoes the dark tones of the tantalum exterior. Beyond its density and corrosion resistance, the tantalum construction demands specialized tools and slow fabrication to achieve refinement comparable to gold or platinum. Limited to just 20 pieces, this exclusive interpretation is priced at 73,900 CHF /$83,400 USD.
Chronomaster Sport MOP
The Chronomaster Sport stands at the intersection of a five-decade legacy and modern forward momentum, now introducing a shift in tone that conveys performance through restraint. This new 41mm two-tone edition blends technical robustness with aesthetic warmth, anchoring its stainless steel construction with an 18-carat rose gold bezel, crown and pushers. Beneath the sapphire glass, a mother-of-pearl dial provides a controlled luminosity that subtly transforms with the light throughout the day, while the signature three-colored overlapping counters remain a direct link to the 1969 El Primero.
Driving this versatile chronograph is the El Primero 3600, a 5 Hz caliber whose central hand completes a full rotation every 10 seconds to visually translate high-frequency measurement into visible motion. The ability to measure 1/10th of a second is not a mere complication here but a natural consequence of the movement’s architecture, which also provides 60 hours of autonomy. Released in a limited edition of only 50 pieces, this refined chronograph is priced at 17,900 CHF /$20,100 USD.
Chronomaster Sport Skeleton Chronograph
Zenith unveils a new expression of transparency with the Chronomaster Sport Skeleton, an openworked architecture that reveals the mechanical complexity of the El Primero 3600 SK. The sapphire dial features a smoked black gradient that transitions to transparency at the center, ensuring that the high-frequency precision remains visible without compromising structural integrity. While the movement reveals its blue-finished column wheel and horizontal clutch, it maintains the functional clarity of the collection through its signature tri-color counters and Super-LumiNova-coated markers.
Significantly, this stainless steel model debuts the patented ZENCLASP™, an ergonomic folding clasp that represents three years of research and optimization. Featuring 41 components and 10 ceramic balls for secure locking, the clasp includes a micro-adjustment system that allows for 10mm of resizing in 2.5mm increments directly on the wrist. The collection includes stainless steel versions with ceramic bezels in green or black, as well as an ultra-exclusive 10-piece rose gold edition set with 52 baguette-cut diamonds. Prices start at 14,900 CHF / $16,700 USD for the steel models, reaching 99,000 CHF /$111,000 USD for the diamond-set limited edition.
