Rolex or Zenith

You should get what you really want.  If you end up getting the consolation watch, you ain't gonna appreciate it, and you'll always be hankering after the real thing you wanted.  I should know - I was my wife's backup choice.

In any event, if you are the typical human being, here's what's really going to happen:

• You're dying to get your hands on Watch A now.  It's all you can think about.  But, because you got money burning a hole in your pocket, you're going to buy Watch B
• Every time you look at Watch B it'll just remind you that you don't have Watch A and you'll disdain it, and it'll end up sitting in your watchbox
• Finally, after years (decades?) of waiting, you'll get your hands on Watch A.  You'll be elated!  And then, after a couple of months...  you'll discover that wearing Watch A on your wrist doesn't make you faster than a speeding bullet, doesn't make you more powerful than a locomotive, and doesn't give you the ability to leap tall buildings in single bound
• You'll sell it at that point, or maybe hang onto it for nostalgia's sake?  If you keep it, it'll end up in your watchbox
• And, then, you'll start buying all sorts of other watches, to fill all the empty slots in that watchbox you bought only for Watches A and B
• Finally, you'll end up like @Candide3693 and you'll need to rent out a trailer to hold all your watches

In the meantime, given the choice between those 2 watches, I'd take the Chronomaster Sport 8 days a week.

Of course it’s personal taste, but wait or no wait, for me it would be the Zenith every time.

Please! It's a storage locker, not a trailer!🤣

For me personally it would be a no-brainer. I’d definitely buy the Zenith. But what you want is another story. Choose what you want to wear on probably a daily basis.

I agree 100% with @Omeganut on this one. If your heart is set on the Air King, a wait of 6-12 months isn't all that bad. With that said, between the 2 watches, I'd go for the Zenith without any hesitation, but that's a personal choice - I happen to love chronographs, and that Chronomaster is one helluva nice chrono.

I clearly would wait for the Air-King, first imho it is the better and nicer watch. On the other hand as @Omeganut said, you should take what you want. And the Air-King is something you can reach, it is not a Daytona. The Zenith would be only the replacement watch... If you are lucky the hype of the Zenith goes further on that you can sell it good when the Air-King arrives ;)

I personally have not a high opinion on the Chronomaster Sport, for me it is more an homage watch than something own. Especially the white version. I was shocked this year when they presented the gold models. They even copied that on this versions the bezel is also gold and not ceramic. The success is on the side of the Zenith, but claiming we have a history with the Daytona because we delivered movements decades ago, so we can take the design is... insolent.

I would hold out for the AK as well. Mostly because I can't imagine the headaches associated with getting that Zenith serviced (as in it's a chronograph, not Zenith's service). Plus the AK is (maybe too) original.

Thanks for your input.  I've got a tough decision to make 🤔

Thanks for your input! I'll have to really think about which one I want.   This will be my one and only watch at this price point so it'll be tough. 

No idea they were talking about watch collecting... 😜

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCC_b5WHLX0

Yeah I feel my heart is with the AK since I had the old one and sold it to get this new one but didn't really accept that Rolex is really tough to get.   Lol I think I answered my own question.  Stupid me selling the AK 116900 before the new one arrived :(

Thanks for your thoughts.  I think I'm going to wait for the AK :)

I also owned the previous Air-King and sold it on the high (2 days after W&W). I am also waiting for the new one, let's see how long it takes. But it is quite nice, when I get it in a few month or a year I will appreciate it more, because I had that nice design not for a long time. I love that dial so much, but the old was simply to thick.

Love it! Haha 

Zenith 

This: 

I'm going to wait.   It's such a weird watch and that's why I really like it :) 

I had the old AK and loved it so this updated one imo is better.   Thanks for your input. 

Great choice!

I agree with what a few people have said…. Get what you feel u love. Which of these is a better watch to own is a different question. My personal opinion is the zenith but the truth is you really are experiencing the wonder of watch collecting and why so many of us love it. My honest opinion is try to get both. I know that sounds ridiculous at first but many of us will tell you how you end up coming across many watches u like for different reasons……. And gradually you build ure collection 

Don’t like either, am staying out of this.

Have you considered a vintage Smiths?

I do like how the Smiths looks but it really isn't on my radar

Perhaps a refurbished Dirty Dozen then? You want something with rugged good looks, go with a classic.

I hope you chose the Zenith over Rolex! 

What did you end up getting?

Does anyone have recommendations on whether to get the chronomaster sport with bracelet or without? Am contemplatin buying the white face. Have read lukewarm reviews about the bracelet so thinking about getting an alternative. Thoughts?

I decided to go with the Rolex datejust 41mm wimbledon.  It's been 4 months waiting and I suspect it'll take another 8 months.   The Zenith chrono sport with bracelet would have been my choice but I hear the clasp on the bracelet isn't the greatest.   Would your alternative still be a chrono?

The wimbleton looks nice. I thought about the newest speedmaster but decided to go with the chronomaster sport as my next watch... I guess I'll just need to get a different bracelet or a leather strap (thinking about black ostrich). 

https://delugs.com/blogs/strap-guide/strap-guide-zenith-chronomaster-sport

The strap looks great! Good decision. hopefully the bracelet isn't as bad as some people say on YouTube. 

If you have any doubts, I would just go with the bracelet.   It's  harder and more expensive to source the bracelet post purchase.      

You wait for the one that tugs those heart strings.         (although like others, I prefer the chronomaster).  

Have you seen both of these in the mental and tried them on?    I've had a number of watches I thought I wanted, but discovered I didn't love how the wear once I had them in person.