Bold, edgy, technically interesting, and extremely attractive. Those are a few of the terms that came to mind the first occasion I got to examine the Zenith Port Royal Open El Primero Concept watch. All the various high-tech elements (carbon fiber for the strap, titanium for the case, and TR 90 for the dial) combine to result in a watch that is very contemporary. At the same time, that rectangular shape hints ever so slightly at well-loved Art Deco classics, giving this watch a versatility that extends beyond the sporty impression that one immediately perceives.

Out of all the various Zenith watches with the “Open” dials, this one just might be the one that works best, to my eyes—largely because the dial cutout works very well with the overall design; the transparent dial with its windowpane pattern is both unusual and very attractive. Zenith has played around a lot with boundary pushing in the designs of its recent watches, but not all have turned out as pleasing as the Port Royal Open Concept.