Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Georges Favre-Jacot

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Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Georges Favre-Jacot - Zenith
3 minutes read
In celebrating its 150 years of existence, Zenith pays tribute to its illustrious founder, Georges Favre-Jacot and launches the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Georges Favre-Jacot.

Christopher Columbus and Georges Favre-Jacot undeniably share a pioneering spirit, a thirst for discovery and a love of challenges. The same desire for great endeavours guided them towards new horizons: the former when he faced the oceans to open the western route towards the Indies; and the second when he founded Zenith in 1865 by creating one of the first industrial Manufactures. 150 years later, the brand with the guiding star remains faithful to this quest for precision and innovation, notably illustrated by more than 300 patents, 600 movement variations and 2,333 distinctions in the field of chronometry: an absolute record. The Manufacture also demonstrated this attitude in 1969 when creating the legendary El Primero automatic movement, which is still the world’s most precise series-made chronograph calibre.

Continuing its tradition of refined watch exteriors, Zenith once again delights devotees of exceptional creation by presenting the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Georges Favre-Jacot: a 10-piece limited edition distinguished by a remarkable décor adorning the back of the watch. This veritable work of art represented a major challenge for the artisans, watchmakers and engineers who worked on the movement in order to accommodate this ornamentation within a 45 mm-diameter platinum case, topped by a cambered sapphire crystal, while avoiding any compromises in terms of precision and reliability.

On the dial side, Zenith sets the scene for the horological feats of this movement by creating an open structure enabling admirers to view three mechanisms in operation: the barrel with its fusée and chain transmission system (visible between 10 and 11 o’clock and between 1 and 2 o’clock), the gyroscopic Gravity Control system and the high-frequency regulating organ (at 6 o’clock). This technical, three-dimensional look also leaves scope for intense aesthetic sophistication, as well as the expression of the finest artistic crafts that Zenith is committed to perpetuating in a spirit of excellence. 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, white enamelled and fitted with blued hands and screws echoing the finest horological traditions. On the mainplate, meticulously hollowed by hand to make the Zenith logo stand out in relief along with a whole host of stars, the empty spaces have been filled with midnight blue lacquer. The counterweight of the Gravity Control system also features a sophisticated motif in the form of a micro-engraved interpretation of the Zenith logo.

The back of the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Georges Favre-Jacot also reveals a fascinating decor. This colourful, depth-effect miniature painting dedicated to the brand founder highlights the virtuosity of highly skilled and experienced artisans. Fixed to the movement by means of a sophisticated system of gold appliques, the scene illustrates the creation of the Manufacture in 1865. Crafted around the mechanism echoing the gimbal suspension systems of marine chronometers, the foreground of this infinitely delicate work shows the figure of Georges Favre-Jacot, hand-engraved in delicately patinated 18K gold. Facing him is a watchmaker seated at his workbench, complete with his loupe, overalls and the traditional tools of mechanical watchmaking. The background depicts the Manufacture, also made of gold and micro-painted, against a stunning hand-painted winter sky evoking the long winters of yesteryear that turned farmers into watchmakers. Ingenuity was required to incorporate this scene, notably by finding fastening points for the applied elements and by reducing to an absolute minimum the movement thickness as well as the spaces between the calibre and the ornamentation. Entirely hand-crafted by artisans gifted with exceptional dexterity, the fabulous decor of the Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane Georges Favre-Jacot makes each timepiece truly one-of-a-kind.

The watch is accordingly presented in a precious mahogany box adorned with an oxbone lock and corner trims, which can also serve as a cigar box once the watch has been removed.

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