Tuesday, November 16, 2021

ZENITH – Chronomaster Revival “Poker Chip” Edition

ZENITH – EL PRIMERO Chronomaster Revival “Poker Chip” Titanium Limited Edition 2021

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Singapore, November 15, 2021: Zenith and SJX Watches present a sleek reinterpretation of one of the brand’s most desirable vintage watches with the Chronomaster Revival “Poker Chip”, inspired by the El Primero G383. 

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Affectionately nicknamed “Poker Chip” by collectors, the G383 is considered one of the most intriguing models in Zenith’s archives. The G383 was introduced in 1969 and is among the rarest and most sought-after iterations of the early El Primero variants.


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Clearly a design with roots in the psychedelic era of the late 1960s, and reminiscent of the A386 and its tri-coloured dial, the G383 was characterised by a wildly sectored layout, making it one of the most extravagant designs of the decade. Developed in partnership with one of Zenith’s trusted dial suppliers at the time, the dial immediately stood out with its boldly alternating colours that recall a poker chip, earning it the nickname. 

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The inimitable style of the G383 formed the genesis of this collaboration, a project that began in May 2020 when Su Jiaxian, founder of Singapore-based watch magazine SJX Watches, reached out to Zenith’s Director of Product & Heritage, Romain Marietta, with a proposal to revive the G383 with a distinctive, modern twist.

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The goal for the pair was to reproduce the key elements of the G383, while injecting a sleek, contemporary flavour. That gave birth to the Poker Chip, a design that relies on shades of grey and a generous helping of Super-Luminova to recreate the G383 in daylight – and in darkness.

“I’ve long admired the El Primero for its longevity, and Zenith for its rich heritage,” explains SJX, “I wanted to do something that would combine both the movement and its history, but rather than a remake, I wanted something that might sound like a paradox: a design immediately recognisable as the G383 but unmistakably novel and different.”

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The Poker Chip dial is dark grey with printed segments in matte black and Super-Luminova. More “lume” can be found on the hour markers, chronograph scales, as well as the radial patterns around each register. 

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In a nod to Zenith’s landmark wristwatch, it uses the same 38 mm case as the El Primero A386, but executed in micro-blasted titanium, giving it a finely grained, dark-grey finish that echoes the colours of the dial. Within the titanium case – and visible through the sapphire back – is the El Primero movement, essentially the same calibre that made history in 1969.

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Each Chronomaster Revival Poker Chip is delivered with two fabric straps, one in matte black and the other in pale green coated with Super-Luminova and is limited to 200 watches, available at Zenith boutiques and e-commerce worldwide and via SJX Watches.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Model: EL PRIMERO Chronomaster Revival “Poker Chip” Edition

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 Reference:    97.G383.400/38.C881

Key points:

  • Reinterpretation of the Iconic "Poker Chip" dial.
  • Microblasted titanium case
  • Original 1969 case with 38 mm diameter.
  • Automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph movement.
  • Limited edition of 200 pieces.
  • Available via SJX and on Zenith boutiques and e-commerce.

MOVEMENT
Movement: El Primero 400 Automatic
Calibre: 13¼```
(Diameter: 30 mm)
Movement thickness: 6.6 mm
Components: 278
Jewels: 31
Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)
Power-reserve.: min. 50 hours
Finishes:
Oscillating weight with “Côtes de Genève” motif
FUNCTIONS
Hours and minutes in the centre
Small seconds at 9 o'clock
Chronograph:

  • - Central chronograph hand
  • - 12-hour counter at 6 o'clock
  • - 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock

Tachymetric scale.  Pulsometer scale.
Date indication at 4:30
CASE
 
Material: Microblasted Titanium
Diameter: 38 mm
Diameter opening: 32.3 mm
Thickness: 12.60 mm
Crystal:
Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
Case-back:
Transparent sapphire crystal
Water-resistance: 5 ATM

DIAL & HANDS
Dial:
Dark grey with printed segments in matt black dial
Hour-markers:
Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova®SLN C3
Hands:
Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova®SLN C3
STRAPS & BUCKLES
Strap:
Comes with two fabric straps, one in matt black and a full Luminova “Cordura” effect strap. .
Buckle:
Microblasted titanium pin buckle

Price 9.900 CHF, USD 10,000, or SGD 14,500

Limited edition: 200 pieces

Availability: Exclusively at SJX Watches for the first month, and then Zenith boutiques and its online shop

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Watchesbysjx.com 
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Press Release - 2021
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ZENITH | Swiss Watch Manufacture Since 1865
Rue des Billodes 34-36 | CH-2400 Le Locle
Minh-Tan-Bui
Tel. +41 32 930 65 59
Mobile +41 79 515 47 54
Email: minh-tan.bui@zenith-watches.com

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Monday, November 15, 2021

GIRARD-PERREGAUX – Laureato Absolute Gold Fever Edition

GIRARD-PERREGAUXLAUREATO Absolute Gold Fever 44mm Black Titanium Edition 2021

A marriage of practicality and decadence  
2021, La Chaur-de-Fonds: The inaugural version of the Girard-Perregaux Laureato was released in 1975. From the outset, it embraced a new, highly original design language. Indeed, the masterful play with shapes, such as juxtaposing the octagonal bezel with circular forms and straight lines, infused the model with a distinctly sporty appearance, albeit with a sizeable quotient of elegance. With the advent of the Laureato, a legend was born. 
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In 2019, Girard-Perregaux released three contemporary novelties, with a very familiar look, forming what is now known as the Laureato Absolute sub-family. Each version was an evolution of the original Laureato, albeit with an overtly muscular torso and presented in a shade of brooding black. The models were suited to an adventurous lifestyle, manifest with their impressive water-resistance of 300 metres. Now, the Manufacture has continued to develop the Laureato Absolute offering, releasing the Laureato Absolute Gold Fever. Once again, Girard-Perregaux has combined two seemingly disparate elements, day-to-day practicality with deliciously decadent pink gold components.


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Often a watch is sporty or elegant, but seldom both. However, the Laureato of 1975 set aside this notion with its distinctive and legendary appearance. Indeed, Girard-Perregaux has always had a remarkable capacity for uniting two contrasting characteristics. The Laureato Absolute Gold Fever blends bold styling and practicality with a useful chronograph complication and luxurious touches of pink gold. 
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Measuring 44mm in diameter, the Grade 5 titanium case proffers much wrist presence but with a welcome absence of mass. The case is suffused with black PVD and encompasses a blend of straight and circular satin-finished surfaces along with polished edges. Unusually for a watch that is not dedicated to diving, the model has an impressive water resistance of 300 metres. The caseback is secured with six screws and engraved with the Laureato Absolute logo, a characteristic found on the first models launched in 2019.

Click, to see the large size. BIG FOTOConsistent with several other Laureato Absolute models, the Cold Fever incorporates a sandwich dial. Where many watches have indexes applied upon the main dial membrane, the dial on this watch adopts a more unusual approach. The black upper dial has cut-out baton-shaped indexes and subdials, affording sight of a lower plate formed from 18K pink gold. By adopting this design, the dial masterfully plays with depths, augmenting visual interest while at the same time delivering impressive readability. The use of 18K pink gold extends to the hour and minute hands as well as the applied GP logo and the three counters gracing the dial.

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Currently celebrating its 230th anniversary, Girard-Perregaux is a company rich in history. However, it has never shied away from exploring cutting-edge technology. In this instance, the Manufacture has endowed the Laureato Absolute Gold Fever with an innovative high-tech rubber strap, made of Girard-Perregaux Rubber Alloy suffused with pink gold for the first time. Made from FKM rubber, the strap is injected with 18K pink gold and features a fabric effect appearance.  

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Consistent with the company’s no-compromise attitude, the FKM rubber delivers greater suppleness and resistance than conventional rubber. Moreover, the specification of the strap with its addition of noble metal bestows a sumptuous look and tactility. Similar to the Laureato of 1975, the strap affixed to this model is integrated, smoothly flowing into the case. The strap is fitted with a titanium folding clasp equipped with a micro-adjustment system which allows the wearer to fine tune the size, thereby granting the perfect ergonomic fit.

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Patrick Pruniaux, CEO of Girard-Perregaux, remarks, “The Laureato Absolute Gold Fever wonderfully showcases a marriage of materials and plays with depths to deliver a sublime combination. Furthermore, by working with Revolution and The Rake, we are extending our innovative spirit to the distribution of our products, what’s more, directly to their audience of connaisseurs that is clearly “in the know”. We have known Wei Koh, the founder of both platforms, for a number of years and he was an obvious choice for this partnership.
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Wei Koh, founder of Revolution & The Rake, added, “My Laureato Crystal Rock has made me into a Laureato convert, and I immediately asked the Girard-Perregaux team to let me know of any other cool launches they might have planned. That’s when they approached me about a collaboration on their latest model, the Laureato Absolute Gold Fever. What I like about it is the dynamic contrast to the 44mm blacked-out titanium case represented by the very targeted use of pink gold. The GP logo, the hands, the indexes and the counters are all 18K pink gold, and the dial’s multi-level sandwich construction creates a really nice sense of depth. And while, in absolute terms, this is not a lot of gold, the overall effect is one that endows the Gold Fever with a kind of louche, seductive opulence
 
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The Girard-Perregaux Laureato Absolute Gold Fever is a limited edition of 188 pieces and will be sold exclusively by Revolution and The Rake on their respective e-commerce platforms as of 15 November 2021 for a period of two months. Thereafter, the model will be available in all authorised Girard-Perregaux retailers and on the brand’s e-commerce site.

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TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Model:  LAUREATO ABSOLUTE GOLD FEVER Edition

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Reference: 81060-21-492-FH3A
World Price: CHF 14,390

Case
Material: Grade 5 titanium with PVD treatment
Diameter: 44.00 mm
Height: 14.65 mm
Glass: sapphire anti-rerlective
Case-back: secured by 6 Screws, engraved Laureato Absolute logo
Dial
18k gold indexes with luminescent material, 18K gold counters, applied
GP logo in 18K pink gold
Hour and minute nands: "baton type WItn luminescent material
Water resistance: 300 metres (30 AI M)
Movement
Reference: GPO3300-1058

Seli-winding mechanical movement
Diameter: 25.95 mm (11")
Height: 6.5 mm
Frequency: 28,800 Vib/h - {4 Hz)
Number of components: 419
Number of jewels: 63
Power reserve: min. 46
hours
Function: Chronograph, hours, minutes, small seconds, date
Bracelet
Material: rubber &18K gold with fabric effect
Buckle: folding clasp with micro adjustment system, titanium with PVD treatrment

Limited to 188 Pieces, not numbered

Retail Price: GBP 12,000 / CHF 14,390 / USD 16,200

 
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Revolutionwatch.com 
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Press release - 2021
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Press Contact:
Manager: Ivanne Perrinjaquet, iperrinjaquet@girard-perregaux.ch
Girard-Perregaux,
International PR : christine.giotto@girard-perregaux.com ------------------------------------------------------------
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