Has Zenith become the Steinhart of Luxury? - The Watch Nuts Horological Musings Episode 2 

The real question that everyone should be considering is what this segment of the channel should be called...🤔

I thought the first few seconds of this video was a skit with (2) Bruce’s 😂. You guys look so alike!

I think there's an error at the core of your thinking - there is no Steinhart without Rolex, the foundation of the brand is to copy rolex with the occasional step away - Steinhart has no corporate 'look' at all. Zenith otoh has a strong brand identity, severval distinct 'looks' in the pilot, defy and el primero lines with hundreds of SKUs that have precisely zero to do with Rolex (or any other watch) and perhaps 4 colourways that are kinda rolex like. That you had to fish out a couple of examples that were made for a specific retailler in japan and not even mainline catalog items makes this feel a bit like a hatchet job.

I actually prefer the Zenith over the Rolex Chrono.

Out of all brands Zenith can make designs which look close to the Daytona because they are the reason Daytona is what it is.

Zenith, Omega, and GS are delivering watches that look great, have excellent quality, can be purchased at or below retail, and they don't play the ridiculous games that Rolex does. The more they eat into Rolex's market share the better.

Ouch!! This is way too hrsh. Zenith is a true watchmaker with a storied history. Many enthusiast like myself would take many models over many roles. Its only one model, thats why its not Steinhart

This is absolutely atrocious 😮😨🥶 How could the CEO of the Zenith agree to such designs?

Very similar design indeed. Rlx copied Zenith in the past. Why Zenith couldn't do the same today? Hard to believe that Rlx wasn't "inspired" by El Primero for building their own movement in the 90s.

serious Bruce? they made limited editions only for the Yoshida Boutique and put in your thumbnail that Zenith is becoming Steinhart? nice way of spreading bullcrap.

I can not find any of these 3 watches on Zenith website. Are these some prior versions?

my next watch i’ve been looking to buy is zenith defy skyline

Well, how collabs typically work in Japan... I suspect Yoshida boutique specifically asked for these watches to look just like this and Zenith acquiesced, a kind of special order. Looking at Yoshida, they seem to have some clout in that market. I mean, they don't just carry Zenith. They also carry no-name brands like Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe. I'm getting the impression this is a joke the Western Watch Snob community is not privy to the punchline. Honestly, for me, the Chronomaster works better than the Daytona or frankly the Speedmaster Pro. I have found I just won't wear a watch without a date on it for whatever reason. That's just where I look to see what date it is when I need to know. I'm sure I could dig my phone out of my pocket, but that's a lot of work. And... I despise magnifiers on date windows. That means if I want to wear a Rolex, and I really thought about it (and subsequently talked myself out of it), I would need to go back catalog for a 16600 or 116600, neither of which are chronographs... And don't get started on screw down pushers... Hate them. Why make a watch harder to use?

I would like to mention that that have jumped on the bandwagon with the Daytona look alike with the white and black chronomaster sport. I believe they sell well and imo have tried both the Rolex and zenith and the zenith is actually quite different in most ways. I cannot deny they are very much alike These 3 in the video are special edition yoshida models made for one boutique. They are limited to 50 or maybe 80 pieces… hard to tell. This is for the Japanese market who obviously love them and request them. These are not on zenith website and not advertised… albeit Zenith and not marketers. Definitely don’t spend the money on marketing like Rolex does . I don’t think it’s fair to put zenith into steinhart territory or even associate with them who have made a business of copying Rolex. Zenith I feel are catering to a loyal customer base on these 3. The white and black was a move to get into the most popular watch silhouette in the world . Can you really blame them?

Oh man. The Zeniths are just knocking it out of the park of late. This has been a very tough time to decide where the money is going if you're watch hunting.

The Chronomaster Sport is reminiscent of the daytona but I wouldn't call it a homage. It's almost entirely because of the ceramic bezel. The case, subdials, indicies are all completely different and 100% chronomaster original. If that's a homage than 90% of all divers produced are submariner homages I guess.

For me … the Zenith Pilot is the one.

The zenith ones are out of order because they are recent designs. I think that out of patent /copyright designs like the Milsubs are legitimate for companies to homage as they are not pretending to be Rolex.

You forgot people who just like watching that Zenith chrono spin...

I own the platona and i still would buy that Ice Blue Chronomaster Sport because let´s face it, the platona holds too much value to be carried around everywhere (plus it´s too heavy), and zenith´s ice blue version it´s way easier to use as a daily watch. I´m way more likely to sell the platona for a profit than to use it as an actual watch, which i don´t like, because i actually love to use my watches, so yeah, i would actually buy and use Zenith´s version. Plus! please, please, grab a Chronomaster and a Daytona, put them side by side, the Chronomaster IS superior, unless what you are looking for is to transfer wealth from your bank account to your watch (which is valid, i do as well), then take the rolex, else grab the Chronomaster. Zenith owes nothing to Rolex, same colors so what? Didnt Vacheron Constantin just released Gold + Green Overseas? Don´t AP and Patek have their own rainbows? There is a Speedy that also has Gold + Green. Iceblue was everywhere 2 years ago, even bell and ross has an Ice Blue BRX5. I think zenith has been way more adventurous than Rolex, you just gotta look.

Whoever buys these, I hope they enjoy them in good health. I couldn't careless about Rolex or what some whatch nerd who believes it's their job to defend Rolex's honor thinks. It's a freakin whatch guys. Get over yourselves.

Doesn't bother me in the least. If it bothers you--don't buy them.

Good chemistry between you two. Great banter. Keep these coming.

the really sad thing that some Zenith watches had that Dart Vader look from the Nataf era. The Defy Xtreme Zero G... nobody makes those any more

Zenith has lots of very original designs too. Taking some watches only available in Japan but not making that clear in the video seems a bit off

At 4:20 when he says the real thing, bad word using real thing. I collect Rolex, and Zenith. There i nothing not real about these Zenith Watches.

Well, Zenith have historically always taken inspiration from other brands. So if anything, they're just continuing the legacy. Tim Mosso describes Zenith as the "watchmaker's watchmaker without a Reverso." The only Zenith model historically can be defined as an icon is the El Primero, and that's just a movement really.

Wasn't aware you have a brother Bruce!

For me, their clasps tend to letme down every time I try Zenith watches from the past 10 years. Lovin these vids btw with both of you guys bouncing stuff off of each other.

I can’t find these releases anywhere online… not for the US market?

I think yes for the sport chronograph . But the el primero original that is a must have watch for any collector

So a Zenith with a green dial is a Rolex copy? Don't know that I would agree. Everyone makes green dials these days.

I think zenith is a brand that today takes current popular watch brands models and says, “we can do that better than you”. Hublot, Rolex, IWC; zenith did it better

I've owned both and sold both after wearing them. Both make great watches, end of discussion.

To be fair Steinhart has plenty of designs that aren't Rolex homages.

Hold on hold on this is a good video but.... Every brand has copied other brand design ideas and styles.. also the in-house movement thing is so over rated and often these in-house movements are not as good as an ETA in TOP grade. Also the Zenith uses pump-pushers for the Chrono and often having pushers without the lockdown screw is preferred. I am thinking of how I make a video to illustrate some of the bad in-house movements that have replaced an ETA movement that worked flawlessly.

Call them 'homages, copies...' - If Zenith can do this - anybody can - and not catch flack.

I'd take a Chronomaster Sport over a Daytona...I prefer the mutti-colored sub dials. I'd never consider either of the other three so I'll file this video under the "don't care" tab.

so nobody can make a yellow, red, or green dial ever again without copying Rolex 😆 if the whole design wasn't exact.... then I would say let them do it hahah. Some of the other watches mentioned is a little bit of a stretch.... But Zenith dropped the ball here.

How much is this rainbow zenith

The fact that there are only 10 segments on the Zentona Rainbow bezel is driving me insane. They give the illusion of having some form of function when in reality it's just because they can't accurately have the jewels in a color grade like the Rolex.

Every head scratching move made by companies always comes down to money especially when the watch companies are part of a conglomerate. They can’t all be independent charities.

Always Rolex Rolex Rolex Rolex... so boring😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

The Chronomaster Sport has never looked right to me but I like the defy

out of all the models zenith has, they have a few watches that maybe questionable. the 3 watches above are an escape rope for customers that have Rolex issues and an opportunity for zenith to maybe get a piece of the pie that Rolex dominates by a long shot. I don't view zenith as a secondary option overall, and those 3 watches are defiantly a bold moved many many watch brands do exactly this, but dog water quality. the zenith will be quality.

So, Submariner owners should be placed in the same category as those who purchase these three Zenith watches since the Omega Marine and Blancpain Fifty Fathoms predate it? Not necessarily. The industry is filled with organizations benefiting from others ‘original’ designs. Ever compare the ‘holy trinity’ and other two register chronographs?

This is weird!? I honestly checked the date thinking this was a Bruce April fools. I do think it taints the brand a bit. This isn't like say the Tudor Rootie, which is its own thing and also has shared history. These are like rip offs? This is weird!?

LOL many brands used JLC movements and continue to do so yet JLC makes their own unique designs. That argument is hogwash.

HOLY CRAP NOOOOO ZENITH

WOW! This is awesome! THANK YOU FINALLY SOMEBODY SAID IT!

I’m watch collector!! i’ll be hearing a lot about which watch is good and which one is bad Rolex omega etc 3.. but what I do is you guys think was collectors like us we need an expensive high and Watch we don’t we have expensive and high and Watches but we don’t have to talk about it. Why can you guys talk about something as simple as a Casio a timex anything else in and if you see a company that is growing and putting a Watch out there why do you guys decide all of a sudden to criticize every company they’re trying to move forward, but what I never hear nobody in this channel talk about is sometimes people don’t wanna hear about how Watches we live in the world where people are starving to death but the two of you guys want to talk about which companies Steinhart. Zenith!! if swatch come out with another watch you guys criticize everything but why don’t you guys take all that money that you guys spend on your watch and do donations to people in America or around the world I’m serious you guys both of you guys think you’re gonna take your Watches when you die you are so far away from reality not even funny once again, I have high and Watches but I don’t have the desire to talk about them because I want to talk about God and talk about what’s going on in the world.period!! I don’t know how you guys go to sleep spending thousands and thousands of dollars when it’s a lot of thousands of thousands of people dying from hungry but I will see the two of you guys in heaven nothing nothing absolutely nothing

Has Rob become the Steinhart of Bruce?

For somebody like me,who could never afford a Rolex,Steinhart offer unbelievable Quality and the look of watches I like😁

Hans Wildorf, the founder of rolex did say... ONLY GREAT MARKETING IS NEEDED TO MAKE A COMPANY SUCCESSFUL... I have seen rolex in the flesh, ain't no way I can justify paying tens of thousands for a stainless steel watch 😅😅😅😅

where are that watches?

Zenith took the decition to go for the new richs snobs (Rolex narket) so they will evaluate later… maybe they’re right!

Zenith makes a ton of great and original watches, with loads of heritage and grwat movements (i have the chronomaster original myself), with never any interest from this chanel. One model looks like a rolex and the boys go bezerk.

Domt forget that zenith makes the movements for rolex and are better then rolex ❤

Can you list even ONE single "uniquely Daytona" design element that was copied by Zenith? Anything? The similarities are few and exclusively superficial.

Steinhart make good watches, who cares if 90% are homages😊😊😊😊😊😊 I own two steinharts and ironicaly they are not homages but original styles with the sub case

can't compare zenith to steinhart 😂😂😂 the three examples you showed, zenith versions are actually nicer ...

Wow!! Looks like rolex and invicta had a love child. At the end of the day who cares. I could find 5000 watches id rather buy than this, for a fraction of the cost. They wont sell because they are fugly, not because they are homages. The whole point of an homage is to resemble something without the pricepoint.

Omega Moonshine anyone… anyone?

Zenith fanboy will eat this up like flies over shit.

Nope to Zenith. Much respect but not for me. I’ll stick with my Invicta from Costco!

You guys are ridiculous. The watch doesn't look like a daytona. Rolex doesn't own the rights to white dial chronographs

It's ah rich man's ripoff . I'd personally take the Zenith over the Daytona to wear and the Daytona to resell

I think people were too accepting with the first Zenith Daytona Chronomaster

this is so bad. zenith needs to fire the geniuses that created these atrocities!

One question to the hairgel loving BW community : would you rather have Zenith take a leaf from Steinhart’s book and stay in business or keep pumping out weird Defy skeleton models ?

id rather wear a fake than blow 20 on this john, you'll get the exact same satisfaction and feeling from wearing this as you'd get from wearing a fake, a similar color fashion, or any other clonage: "i wish i had the real thing"

No maybe it's Tudor

Geez..that hair😂

Damn Zenith - copy peoples homework much Love zenith But There own original chrono designs

Relax people, it's an April fool's joke.

Rolex, Shmolex………enough already 🤮

Name ONE single Swiss brand that has not copied another brands' designs in the last 70 years. I dare you to find one. Even Patek, Rolex, Vacheron and AP did. Why people still act surprised today?

I’ll have to respectfully fully disagree with the “hot take” here guys. I think you both selected a few similar models and ignored others in the same line that look nothing like a Rolex. Calling these watches a copy is a bridge too far and start to bleed into Rolex fanatic territory. I like Rolex but just because the Daytona is the most popular chronograph; doesn’t equate to other models being copies.

Sorry just cannot approve...

Unpopular opinion: they made it as parody I feel. There’s going to be so few of these out there. This is to get yall talking about zenith because no matter what bunny they pull out of hat the watch community has eternal hard on for Rolex anyway. This is like when H moser trolled Apple Watch. This entire video just made Zenith’s point as now everyone is talking about it alongside the actual try-hard that has to write every possible credential on the dial for insecure people.