New team, still green. NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers has worn the color green for the whole of his storied 19-year-long career, first in the iconic green and yellow of the Green Bay Packers, and now in the green and white of his newest team, the New York Jets. In honor of the color that’s accompanied the four-time MVP signal caller throughout his tenure in the league, Zenith and Rodgers are teaming up to launch the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rodgers Edition watch as a — you guessed it — thoroughly green limited-edition release of 250 pieces, and the brand’s first-ever Chronomaster Sport collaboration.
It hasn’t been the smoothest of starts for Rodgers in the Meadowlands: the 39-year-old QB went down with a torn Achilles tendon in his very first drive as a New York Jet in the season opener two months ago. It was a heartbreaking debut for a team with high hopes after acquiring the Super Bowl-winning quarterback. Yet despite the severity of the injury, coupled with his age, Rodgers has shown a remarkable recovery so far, and it’s exactly this dedication to hard work in the face of adversity that reaffirms Zenith CEO Julien Tornare’s decision to partner with Rodgers as a face of the brand. “I’m absolutely thrilled that our first-ever Chronomaster Sport limited edition was made in honor of our cherished brand ambassador Aaron Rodgers,” says Tornare. “It is a testament to his unstoppable spirit and determination. He continuously reminds us that the drive to reach your star should never be let go, even in times of challenge.”
Rodgers has shown a particular fondness for the Zenith Chronomaster Sport in steel since becoming a Zenith ambassador in 2021, making the watch a natural starting point for this limited-edition collaboration. The standout detail of the Zenith Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rodgers Edition is, unsurprisingly, the rich green dial that ranges between emerald and kelly green depending on the light. It’s a vibrant, attractive shade that neither Packers or Jets fans will take issue with. The bezel is constructed of a matching green ceramic, with engraved 1/10th of a second markings surrounding the dial. On the wrist, the 41mm-wide stainless steel case wears comfortably and slightly smaller than one would expect, thanks mainly to the sharply tapered lugs that give an overall lug-to-lug width of just over 46mm.
For the first time in the Chronomaster Sport collection, the luminescent applied hour markers are rendered as Arabic numerals in a font meant to resemble football jersey numbers, and the classic El Primero tricolor dial is reinterpreted in a decidedly monochrome palette of anthracite, light gray, and silver. It’s a handsome balance to the otherwise vivid and saturated dial, and Zenith wisely opted for a color-matched date window at 4:30. Inside is the newest version of the El Primero 3600 high-frequency movement that gives the watch its true 1/10th of a second measurement capabilities, operating at 5Hz with 60 hours of power reserve. The movement is visible through the sapphire display caseback and features an “AR” logo of Rodgers’ initials. Water resistance is a respectable 100 meters, and a slightly tapered three-link steel bracelet completes the package.
The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rodgers Edition watch is admittedly a very specific flavor in the Chronomaster Sport collection. I personally think this piece would have a bit of a wider appeal were it not for the Arabic applied numerals as they give the overall aesthetic a distinctly gridiron feel. But then again, considering that this watch was designed by one of the best NFL quarterbacks of all time, that’s not all too surprising. The Zenith Chronomaster Sport Aaron Rodgers Edition watch is limited to 250 pieces and will be available for purchase via Zenith’s physical and online boutiques beginning November 2, 2023. Pricing is expected to be approximately 12,400 CHF. For more information, visit the Zenith website.
