News Central - Zenith Timepieces Relaunch their Ladies line - Zenith Star Open & Star Moonphase blog post

Zenith Timepieces Relaunch their Ladies line - Zenith Star Open & Star Moonphase blog post

Jun 27, 2012,10:04 AM

ZENITH - HERITAGE

ZENITH STAR

AN ANTHEM TO FEMININITY

Since 1865, Zenith has also been dedicating its legend to women. From the first enamelled pocket watches to jewellery pendant watches along with complicated wristwatches, its creations are an anthem to elegance and to the watchmaking art. And history is merely a prologue, as the new Zenith Star eloquently testifies.

"Zenith is a creative laboratory."

Guided by the visionary intuition of the man who founded it almost 150 years ago, Zenith has made a lasting impact on the cultural history of ladies' watches and has written some of the most fascinating chapters in this ongoing odyssey. This is due to two main reasons, the first being the exceptional position held by the brand since 1865. Over 300 Zenith patents have laid as many milestones in the progress of time measurement, encompassing the entire spectrum from onboard instruments to wristwatches as well as pocket watches. More than 600 movement variations testify to unique expertise.

The second reason is that the Manufacture has always succeeded in placing technology at the service of beauty. Zenith is a creative laboratory. Watch designs stem from the whole range of functions of a given mechanism. But while designers must incorporate all the technical elements within the conceptual process, they are also keen to infuse timepieces with a poetic touch. In this way, right from the early days of the wristwatch, the collections for women have been consistently developed as a blend of top-flight horology and elegance.

Zenith has dedicated this passion for horological complications – which constantly inspires it to develop new models, to fine-tune its movements and its cases ranging from the most understated to the most sophisticated – to serving women. Zenith has always made a point of adorning its timepieces with precious stones and enamelled paintings, and has poured the full range of its horological skills into endowing ladies' watches with a rare aura of distinction. The brand stands out from its peers in this domain, transforming complications into authentic jewellery masterpieces. The designers' inventiveness gives rise to prodigious accomplishments reserved exclusively for women.

Ladies' watches have always been designed primarily to underscore elegance. Right from the 19th and above all the 20th century, women have wanted creations featuring an inseparable blend of beauty and technical performance. And no other brand than Zenith so closely entwines aesthetic appeal and fine mechanisms. In an era when women are more than ever eager to own creations that are both technically sophisticated and inherently precious, Zenith revels in inventing unique new models – such as the new Zenith Star collection.

ZENITH STAR VARIATIONS

The Manufacture Zenith has always been sensitive to the tastes of women, who have indeed played a key role in its history. It was in particular thanks to the support and encouragement of his wife that Georges Favre-Jacot created the Manufacture that would become Zenith. The advent of the Zenith Star watch, notably distinguished by its retro-chic cushion-shaped cases, is a further step in this enduring story of which two new models are now writing a new chapter: the Zenith Star Open and the Zenith Star Moonphase.

"Governed by the conviction that the true perfection of a work of art is perceptible in its smallest details."

The Zenith Star Open and Zenith Star Moonphase models testify to a two-fold influence: that of feminine and daring cushion-shaped ladies' watches; and that of a fine and exceptionally reliable mechanism. Their undeniable technical feats are combined with subtle aesthetic refinement.

ZENITH STAR OPEN

Embodying the philosophy of absolute performance, the Zenith Star Open pays tribute to the El Primero calibre. Right at first glance, this model draws the gaze to the expressive strength of its original cushion shape accentuated by an opening at 10:30 revealing the legendary heart of the mechanical automatic movement, El Primero Calibre 4062. This window onto the escapement thus shows the intricate inner workings of the movement: the high frequency is no longer an abstract principle, since one can actually keep track of the oscillations and see the watch beating. In order to avoid hiding this technical feat from view, readability is the keynote of the dial, which indicates the hours and minutes in the centre, while the small seconds appear in a heart-shaped display at 9 o'clock. The central chronograph hand and the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock further enrich this harmonious visual symphony. The mother-of-pearl or guilloché dial, depending on the model, emphasises the desire to achieve aesthetic perfection in each and every detail, as also exemplified in the blue Roman numerals or faceted rhodiumed hands that match the intense blue of the elegant cabochon-cut sapphire adorning the crown. Governed by the unshakeable conviction that the true perfection of a work of art is perceptible in its smallest details, the movement decoration is visible through a sapphire caseback.

Three models are available: a steel version set with 28 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 0.17 carats; a rose gold version set with 63 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 0.27 carats; and a rose gold version set with 263 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 1.57 carats. They are fitted with an alligator leather strap complete with a triple folding clasp.

These Zenith Star Open watches represent exceptional creations that clearly already belong to the heritage of a brand that fully dedicates its outstanding expertise to the pursuit of precision, elegance and performance.

• NEW CUSHION-SHAPED CASE FOR LADIES

• OPENING REVEALING THE LEGENDARY BEATING HEART OF THE EL PRIMERO MOVEMENT

• AUTOMATIC COLUMN-WHEEL EL PRIMERO CHRONOGRAPH

• 37X37 MM CASE DIMENSIONS

TECHNICAL DATA

MOVEMENT

El Primero 4062, automatic

Calibre : 13¼``` (Diameter: 30 mm)

Thickness : 6.60 mm

Components : 253

Jewels : 31

Frequency : 36'000 VpH – (5 Hz)

Power reserve : min. 50 hours

Finishings : Oscillating weight with

"Côtes de Genève" pattern.

FUNCTIONS

Hours and minutes in the centre

Heart-shaped small seconds display with heart-tipped hand

1-counter chronograph :

- Central chronograph seconds hand

- 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock

CASE, DIAL & HANDS

Material : 18-carat rose gold with diamonds or stainless steel with diamonds

Diameter : 37x37 mm

Diameter opening : 32 mm

Thickness : 12.70 mm

Crystal : Curved sapphire crystal with anti-reflection treatment on both sides

Case-back : Transparent sapphire crystal

Water-resistance : 3 ATM

Dial : White mother-of-pearl

or silver-toned guilloché

Hour-markers : Blue Roman numerals

Hands : Rhodium, faceted (with or without gold plating)

STRAPS & BUCKLE

Alligator leather strap with protective rubber lining

Ref.: 27.00.1916.725

brown alligator leather

Ref.: 27.00.1916.714

black alligator leather

Triple folding clasps

Ref.: 27.18.0028.940

rose gold triple folding clasp

Ref.: 27.03.0128.940

stainless steel triple folding clasp

ZENITH STAR MOONPHASE

There appears to be no stopping the mechanical automatic ultra-thin Zenith Elite 692 movement, housed in this instance within the remarkable cushion-shaped case of the Zenith Star Moonphase model. The epitome of slenderness at just 3.87 thick, it comprises 195 parts, beats at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour and drives a display of the over 50-hour power reserve. It highlights a superb mechanical movement by endowing it with a technical and aesthetic dimension. The stage is superbly set for the hours, minutes, small seconds and moon phase appearing on the silver-toned dial. The latter marks off the hours and minutes on blue Roman numerals matching the deep blue shade of the exquisite cabochon-cut sapphire set on the crown. This superbly modern and distinctively elegant model gives pride of place to the functions: the small seconds indication at 9 o'clock, and the moon-phase display at 6 o'clock entirely dedicated to the path of the nocturnal luminary. On the back of the watch, a sapphire crystal reveals the intricate workings of a hand-decorated and engraved movement. Offering a splendid expression of horological refinement, this watch comes in a choice of steel or rose gold set with 28 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds totalling approximately 0.17 carats, fitted with an alligator leather strap complete with triple folding clasp. Whichever the version, it consistently offers its wearer the pleasure of reading off a time that is truly unique.

"A splendid expression of horological refinement"

• NEW CUSHION-SHAPED CASE FOR LADIES

• ELITE CALIBRE 692: ULTRA-THIN WATCH WITH MOON-PHASE INDICATION

• MOON-PHASE ADJUSTMENT VIA THE CROWN

• 37X37 MM CASE DIMENSIONS

TECHNICAL DATA

MOVEMENT

Elite 692, automatic

Calibre : 11½ ```(Diameter: 25.60 mm)

Thickness : 3.97 mm

Components : 195

Jewels : 27

Frequency : 28,800 VpH – (4 Hz)