Chronographs - Heuer or Zenith?

I know you specified modern available pieces, but what about fictional ones? 🤣

Personally, if I could somehow divine from thin air a vintage style Heuer Carrera case with the El Primero 1/10th second movement in it and slap some tricolor subdials on that sucker... Oh boy. 

Otherwise, if you're going to make me follow the rules, I GUESS I'd go with Zenith for their technical prowess with movements. You know, if I HAD to... 

Both pretty, but I‘d go with the Zenith.  The El Primero movement is simply superior from a technical point of view, provided that you can handle the shorter service intervals which come from the higher beat rate.

Zenith, duh. The brand live on the reputation of their chrono movement. 

It is tough call, but the movement weighs in favor of the Zenith.

Zenith for the win!

I think Zenith takes this based on the movement. 

They may or may not have been first with the automatic chronograph (in whatever metric you use to measure it) but they made arguably the best movement, certainly the one that lasted. Since this is about chronographs I think the technical aspect matters more than on a 3 hand watch so it has to be Zenith for me.

I just wish the case of the re-issue was a bit more ergonomic.

ohhh do We really have to choose … ok Zenith like all the knuckle heads above me..

I really like the relative low contrast between the dial and the sub dials in both watches. I made my choise last week and I say the different colors on the sub dials on the Zenith made it more playful and were the tipping point for me.

I like both but Zenith is the much better watch.

Both really nice, but the Zenith is the best.

Zenith.  Movement is special.

I will say Zenith too. The movement is better and that has been beaten to death, but for me its the design. I like the multi-colored registers. Gives the watch a bit of a pop. But I might be the only person on the planet that prefers the Chronomaster Sport with a black dial over the white.

My favorite Zenith is the A384 Revival with the Cappuccino dial. That watch is simply stunning.

Gotta be Zenith..

Zenith is the answer you're probably you'll get the most.  However, calculations may change once you factor in the price.  If I were going to go with the Heuer, I'd go with the Monaco as it's the most unique and interesting design of theirs imo.

I love my Heuer CBE2118. I’m a huge motorsport fan, so I appreciate heritage and history even more in this watch category. It looks very similar to some of the watches Mario Andretti owned back in the day. I know the Zenith is more impressive on a technical note, but my Heuer brings me joy only found from  having a shared experience with top racecar drivers. I love putting on my watch and pretending I’m a Formula One driver from the 70s.

Here’s a fun promotional image that came out with the CBE2118.

And an ad that promoted the Autavia “Viceroy” in the 70s.

Niki Lauda wearing his Heuer.

Niki’s teammate, Clay Regazzoni, wearing his.

Jo Siffert wearing his Heuer Autavia. He’s often credited for convincing Steve McQueen to wear a Heuer in the movie Le Mans.

Everybody’s seen this one.

Sticking with movies: here’s Matt Damon playing Carroll Shelby in Ford vs. Ferrari wearing a Heuer Carrera. I know it’s just a movie, but it‘s a testament to Heuer being associated with racing.

My favorite driver, Mario Andretti, wearing his Heuer Autavia.

Last, but not least: reigning 2 time F1 champ Max Verstappen wearing his Tag Heuer Monaco.