ZENITH - ACADEMY Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage Limited Edition NEW
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ACADEMY Christophe Colomb Hurricane grand voyage
Charting a course towards the exceptional
This year, the Manufacture is pursuing its tribute to the famous navigator Christopher Columbus
by introducing this heir to marine chronometers in a splendid
interpretation calling upon the finest artistic crafts such as
enamelling, engraving and micro-painting.
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It thereby expresses perfect
mastery of these historical skills that have been adorning Zenith creations for almost 150 years.
This exceptional entirely hand-finished model issued in a
10-piece
limited edition is accompanied by three major horological discoveries: a patented gravity control system; a fusée and chain transmission mechanism; and an exceptional frequency of
36,000 vibrations per hour.
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A pioneering spirit, a love of challenges and a thirst for exploration:
the very same passion and the same quest for uncharted horizons guided
Christopher Columbus
and Georges Favre-Jacot – the former when he set sail across the vast
expanse of ocean to open up a westward route towards the Indies; and the
latter when he founded
Zenith in
1865 by inventing the very first industrial watch manufacturing company or “Manufacture”.
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Almost a century and a half later, the brand with the guiding star is still faithful to this pursuit of precision and innovation, as is notably illustrated by over
300 patents. The Manufacture proved this determination in
1969 by creating the legendary
El Primero automatic movement, which is still the world’s most accurate series-made chronograph. Moreover, fine watchmaking is not confined to the realm of mechanisms.
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CAPTION
The counterweight of the gravity control system is adorned with a micro-painted depiction of the Southern hemisphere.
Confirming its tradition of refined watch exteriors, notably embodied in a number of enamelled pocket watches, Zenith once again delights collectors and connoisseurs of rare models by presenting the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage
– a limited edition that stands out from the rest of the line by its
magnificent décor. It represented a challenge not only for the artisans,
but also for the watchmakers and engineers who had to rework the
movement. They occasionally pushed the boundaries of feasibility in
seeking to accommodate these ornamental elements within the same 45
mm-diameter case in rose gold and beneath the same domed sapphire
crystal – while making no compromises on precision and reliability. The
result is a vivid illustration of Zenith’s
creative daring and of its ability to combine a dream mechanism with
exceptional decorative touches stemming from the most prestigious
artistic crafts.
Technical sophistication reigns supreme on the front
On the dial side, Zenith
opted to give pride of place to the horological feats incorporated in
the watch, while maintaining an open architecture providing a chance to
admire its three original mechanisms in action: the barrel with its
fusée and chain transmission (at 10.30 and 1.30), gyroscopic gravity
control system, and the high-frequency regulating organ at 6 o’clock.
Yet this technical, three-dimensional appearance does not preclude
considerable aesthetic sophistication, as well as the use of the finest
artistic crafts that Zenith is devoted to perpetuating.
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The three gold subdials (hours/minutes at 12 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, power reserve at 4 o’clock) are finely guilloché, enamelled in white and fitted with blued steel hands and screws echoing the grand watchmaking traditions.
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Engraving is followed by the delicate art of applying the lacquer.
The plate has been entirely hollowed out by hand so as to leave only the Zenith
logo and a flurry of stars standing out in relief; and the troughs thus
created have been filled with midnight blue lacquer. The counterweight
of the gravity control system has also been enhanced with a
sophisticated and poetic touch by a hand-crafted micro-painted depiction
of the Southern hemisphere.
The back is an open travel invitation
The back of the
Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage springs a big surprise with a vividly coloured and lively evocation of the famous navigator’s many adventures. This authentic miniature painting was created by the finest specialists in various artistic crafts using a sophisticated system of gold appliques fixed directly on the movement. In the foreground, on either side of the mechanism reminiscent of the gimbal suspension typical of marine chronometers, one may admire the finely engraved portrait of Christopher Columbus along with a sextant, the astronomical instrument serving to calculate longitude.
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The manually micro-engraved décor portrays the vessel in an amazing wealth of details.
The background bears a reproduction of the Santa Maria, the flagship with which Columbus sailed on his first voyage in 1492. The tiny manually cut-out and micro-engraved décor depicts the vessel in abundantly rich detail, particularly in terms of the ropes and rigging. The various sails, crafted in enamel on a cloisonné base using an engraved champlevé technique, are adorned with the famous red cross – replaced on one of them by
Zenith’s famous guiding star in a nod to connoisseurs. Behind the sailboat, the going-train bridge has been chosen to represent the ocean with a background engraved with tiny waves and then coated with a layer of translucent lacquer. In the background, the barrel bridge opens up the horizon with a micro-painted décor depicting a sky divided into day and night.
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CAPTION
In the foreground, the finely engraved portrait of Christopher Columbus.
In a subtle detail, the watchmakers of the Manufacture have arranged the movement structure in such a way as to reveal a small gilded gear train evoking sunrise or sunset. Integrating this décor called for a wealth of ingenuity, including finding points to which the applique elements could be fixed, while reducing the movement thickness and the spaces between the calibre and the ornamentation to an absolute minimum (less than a tenth of a millimetre beneath the sails). Entirely hand-finished by artisans gifted with great dexterity, the fabulous adornment of the
Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage makes each watch a unique work of art – and a true collector’s watch.
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CAPTION
The various sails, crafted in enamel on a cloisonné base using an engraved champlevé technique, are adorned with the famous red cross.
The quest for precision at the very heart of the movement
While Christopher Columbus pushed back the frontiers of the known world, this model named after him pushes the boundaries of time measurement by combining three mechanisms guaranteeing enhanced precision: a regulating organ with a high oscillating frequency (
36,000 vibrations per hour) for dividing time into tenths of a second; a fusée and chain transmission system compensating for the inevitable variations in the force of a barrel while it is unwinding; and a patented gravity control module serving to neutralise the effects of gravity on the rate of a watch.
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In other words, it successfully solves the problems relating to actually
wearing the watch (gravity) and to the length of time it can run
independently (a drop in torque), while simultaneously ensuring
remarkable precision in time measurement (linked to the oscillation
speed of the balance). These feats are achieved by an exceptional
movement comprising
939 parts, including
354 for the calibre itself that
in turn houses the 173 elements of the gravity control module; while
the fusée and chain system comprises 585 parts.
Fusée and chain transmission ensuring constant force
As a mechanical watch gradually winds down, the movement loses amplitude (corresponding to the balance-wheel’s angle of oscillation) and thus becomes less accurate. The fusée and chain transmission system serves on the contrary to keep the driving force perfectly stable throughout the full power reserve – with the helicoidal shape of the fusée compensating for the progress reduction in the force of the barrel.
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The majority of 16th, 17th and 18th century pocket watches were equipped with a fusée, but today very few watch manufacturers are capable of transposing and fitting this mechanism within the confines of a wristwatch. With the
Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage, stemming from two full years of development,
Zenith has now entered this highly exclusive club.
Transmission between the barrel and fusée is handled by an 18 cm-long chain comprising
585 parts. This highly complex construction features alternating double and intermediate links. Once assembled, it is capable of withstanding a traction force of more than 3 kilos.
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Throughout the power reserve, the mainspring transmits its energy to the
fusée via a chain that wraps itself around the barrel. By adjusting the
variations in tension, the fusée regulates the force that is passed on
to the going train – and thence to the silicon escape-wheel fitted
inside the gyroscopic carriage. While it takes more than 50 hours (the
power-reserve duration) for the chain to wrap itself around the barrel,
winding via the stem provides a fascinating sight. These few seconds
enable the fusée and the barrel to turn in opposite directions so that
the chain wraps itself back around the fusée.
The shape of the fusée was dictated by the optimal force that the Zenith
master-watchmakers wished to give the barrel. Its grooved conical
contours as well as its dimensions are the result of lengthy and
particularly complex complications performed for each of the seven
construction stages. This fusée could doubtless never have been created
without the full integration of all professions (notably including
movement prototype making) cultivated in the Manufacture Zenith, nor without the use of sophisticated equipment. Such is indeed one of the core strengths of an integrated Manufacture.
Gravity control: defying gravity
While fusée and chain transmission eliminates variations in isochronism (the equal duration of the oscillations), the
Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage also cancels out another effect that is detrimental to the rate of a mechanical watch: the influence of gravity.
Working on the principle that keeping the regulating organ in a horizontal position engenders the best possible balance-wheel amplitude and thus results in optimal timekeeping precision,
Zenith devised and patented a revolutionary module enabling the “heart” of the movement and the escapement to remain constantly in this position.
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An avant-garde system brilliantly illustrating the creative daring of
the Manufacture, the gravity control system is also a tribute to
history, since it is inspired by the marine chronometers that
Zenith
used to produce, borrowing from these legendary instruments the
principle of gimbal suspension introduced in the 16th century on marine
compasses so that they would stay horizontal despite the pitching and
rolling of the boat.
The gravity control system with its self-regulating gyroscopic mechanism
serves to maintain the regulating organ in a permanently horizontal
position whatever the angle of the wrist and thereby represents the
ultimate evolution of the marine chronometer. The brand with the guiding
star is the only watch manufacturer to master this system – duly
rewarded in the “Best Complicated Watch” category at the 2011 Geneva
Watchmaking Grand Prix – that it invented after five years of intense
development.
A stylish presentation box
Such an exceptional model deserved to be presented to its best advantage. The
Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage comes in a precious mahogany box featuring ox bone inlays and that can also serve as a humidor with a capacity of 80 cigars. In homage to
Christopher Columbus, this box is adorned with a screen-printed motif on parchment-style papyrus reproducing Waldseemüller’s planisphere (
1507), the first world map to mention the name “America”.
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A magnificent ocean voyage and a splendid voyage to the heart of the
infinitely small: with this limited edition combining fine watchmaking
and artistic crafts,
Zenith is setting out to conquer fascinating new horizons, inspired as ever by a blend of daring, authenticity and pleasure.
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
ACADEMY Christophe Colomb Hurricane Grand Voyage
· 1st CHRISTOPHE COLOMB MODULE WITH FUSÉE AND CHAIN TRANSMISSION
· CONSTANT-FORCE FUSÉE AND CHAIN TRANSMISSION CONNECTED TO THE BARREL
· TRIBUTE TO THE FAMOUS EXPLORER
· HAND-CRAFTED GOLD ELEMENTS SCREWED TO THE MOVEMENT: MICRO-ENGRAVING,
MICRO-PAINTING AND ENAMELLING ON A CLOISONNÉ BASE USING AN ENGRAVED CHAMPLEVÉ TECHNIQUE
· 10-PIECE LIMITED EDITION
Movement
El Primero 8805, hand-wound
A unique gyroscopic mechanism that maintains the regulating organ in a perfectly horizontal position
Calibre: 16 ½’’’ (diameter: 37 mm)
Thickness: 5.85 mm
Parts: 354
Gyroscopic carriage composed of 173 parts
Chain made of 585 parts
Jewels: 53
Frequency: 36,000 vph (5 Hz)
Over 50-hour power reserve
FUNCTIONS
Off-centred hours and minutes at 12 o’clock
“Gravity Control” self-regulating module at 6 o’clock
Small seconds at 9 o’clock
Power-reserve indication at 3 o’clock
Fusée and chain transmission beneath the hours/minutes dial
Case, dial and hands
18-carat rose gold
Diameter: 45 mm
Thickness: 14.80 mm/21.80 mm
(with domed sapphire crystal)
Cambered sapphire crystal glareproofed on both sides, domes protecting the Christophe Colomb module
Water resistance 3 ATM
Dial: 3 enamelled gold dials
Hour-markers: black lacquered
Hands: blued steel
Reference 18.2211.8805/36.C713
Brown alligator leather strap with rose gold triple folding clasp
