Zenith ACADEMY Christophe Colomb Hurricane Revolución

Apr 14, 2014,11:27 AM
 

ACADEMY Christophe Colomb
Hurricane Revolución

Holding a course towards exceptional territories…
Three great revolutionary figures, three great watch discoveries

Zenith continues to hold its course towards exceptional territories by enriching the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane line with three timepieces in tribute to three emblematic South American revolutionary figures: Simón Bolívar, Ernesto “Che” Guevara and Emiliano Zapata. These three revolutionaries echo the three major horological discoveries with which these models are equipped: gravity control (patented system); fusée-chain transmission; and an unparalleled cadence of 36,000 vibrations an hour. Available in an exceptional three-piece limited edition, the models are are sumptuously decorated using artistic crafts rarely seen in Fine Watchmaking: enamelling, micro-engraving and micro-painting. They bear eloquent testimony to the fact that the Manufacture well and truly masters the ancestral skills that have been adorning its creations for nearly 150 years.

Zenith and travel
Christopher Colombus and Georges Favre-Jacot could have been related. Did not one of the greatest sailors of all time and the insatiable captain of industry share the same thirst for victory, the same love of a good challenge, the same pioneering spirit – the former in setting foot on an unexplored continent, when he was seeking a new route to the East Indies; and the latter when he founded the first watchmaking Manufacture in the modern sense of the term in 1865? Today, more than 150 years later, this entrepreneurial spirit is still intact. It is even strengthened by an unshakeable will to excel. Witness the 300 patents and 2,333 prizes won in the realm of chronometry: an absolute record. Presented in 1969, and the first integrated chronograph in the world to beat at the unparalleled cadence of 36,000 vibrations an hour, the legendary El Primero in-house calibre is also a testament to this spirit. And if the Manufacture shines so brightly in the realm of beautiful watchmaking, this brilliance also stems from its determination to perpetuate the art of exquisite decoration. 
This approach is admirably showcased in the exceptional three-piece edition grouped together in a set and called the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Revolución. Collectors and fans of rare pieces will appreciate the amazing work of the craftsmen who have taken on the challenge of adorning the movement with custom-made decorations, sometimes going to the very limits of what is deemed possible, and never compromising either precision or reliability. A new demonstration of Zenith’s creative daring and its ability to make completely new movements even more beautiful than they are already with decorations crafted by true artists.




An exceptional watch viewed from the front…
Like all the watches in the line, the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Revolución stands out immediately from the rest of the Zenith collection. The open dial architecture gives pride of place to the movement, making it possible to see and admire the three original mechanisms: the barrel with fusée-chain transmission appearing between 10.30 and 1.30 on the dial; the gravity control gyroscopic module – a revolution in Fine Watchmaking; as well as the high-frequency regulator at 6 o’clock. The incredible technicality of this timepiece also stems from intensive aesthetic research calling upon the talents of the best craftsmen, whose skills Zenith is committing to maintaining. The three gold subdials – hours/minutes at 12 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock and power reserve at 4 o’clock – have been finely guilloché and then enamelled, equipped with blued steel hands reflecting the finest watchmaking traditions and screwed to the plate with blued steel screws. The plate has been hollowed out to fit the shape of the dials and the gyroscopic module. On the remaining super-light structure, five stars including Zenith’s, have been carved in relief and coated in midnight blue varnish. In parallel, the decor of the gravity control system’s counterweight shows an entirely hand-crafted micro-painting depiction of the Southern hemisphere.




… of watches featuring a revolutionary back
On the case-back, the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Revolución has three big surprises in store. As its name indicates, the timepiece is available in three versions paying tribute to three figures from South American revolutions: Simón Bolívar, Ernesto “Che” Guevara and Emiliano Zapata. These are veritable miniature paintings produced by the best craftsmen with the help of a sophisticated system of gold appliques fixed directly onto the movement. On the first model, in the foreground left of the counterweight of the gyroscopic module depicting the Southern hemisphere, is a portrait of general and politician, Simón Bolívar. 
Above him is his sword, and to the right of the counterweight are his pistols. In the background is the man riding a white horse that one can see is prancing. Finely carved and painted by hand, these details are achieved with the utmost delicacy and under a microscope. On the back of the second model is the portrait of Ernesto Guevara, known as the “Che”, wearing his famous beret. This Argentinian, who was the man behind the Cuban revolution, is standing proudly above the counterweight of the gyroscopic module, while, on both sides, his followers are depicted brandishing their guns. The characters are in gold and carved by hand, while the details of the Cuban flag, on the left, and the ocean with the island of Cuba, in the top right hand corner, are painted under a microscope. The back of the third model catches the eye with its reference to Mexican art, with bright colours surrounding an openworked portrayal of a rider and his horse astride the gyroscopic module. On the bottom right, a cactus sits opposite the portrait of the revolutionary. Here too, this exceptional work on the tiniest details was done under a microscope. Completely hand-finished by skilled craftsmen, these extraordinarily delicate adornments transform the three Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Revolución into authentic collector’s items.

PRESS RELEASE

This message has been edited by Ornatus-Mundi on 2014-04-14 11:27:35


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