The “Geneva Haute Horlogerie Grand Prix” (GPHG), co-organized by Edipresse Group, Canton of Geneva, and the city of Geneva, led its tour exhibition to China for the first time in 2011. The ‘Geneva Haute Horlogerie’ (GPHG), once known as the ‘Oscar Award’ in the watch industry, can be called the highest honor creator of watchmaking. Every year, about 300 brands and watchmakers compete to compete for the ten most prestigious, authoritative and influential awards in the global fine watch industry. As one of the world’s top four watchmakers in Switzerland, Zenith (Zhenith) also has two watches in this year’s ‘Geneva Fine Watch Award’ (GPHG). Among them, Christophe Colomb watches were shortlisted for high-complex watches and El Primero Stratos Flyback watches were shortlisted for sports watches.
Christophe Colomb
More than a century after Columbus completed its sailing feat, a marine compass equipped with a ‘cardan suspension’ on the balance ring was successfully developed. This universal joint installed in the shaft can rotate and adjust itself when it loses balance The advent of this technology will soon significantly improve the accuracy of marine navigation. This cardan-type suspension system was subsequently used to assemble marine astronomical clocks, and it now inspires design engineers at ZENITH Manufactures who are constantly seeking to counteract the effect of gravity on the earth to ensure watch accuracy. Although the tourbillon device can achieve this, it was originally designed for pocket watches that are carried vertically. The watch is in a constantly changing position during operation. Therefore, the ZENITH watch factory decided to try to make the adjustment mechanism and escapement forever. Stay in this position.
We can imagine how challenging it is to keep the watch in a straight position in all kinds of daily or sports activities. Not to mention a movement with a frequency of up to 10 times per second, which is enough to explain why it takes five full years of research and development to achieve this major achievement of the watch industry. This bold and innovative complex device contains 166 parts, and a tourbillon only has about 66 parts. The first watch whose speed was not affected by the movement of the wearer was born.
El Primero Stratos Flyback
Stratos Flyback watches are available in four models: stainless steel, sturdy black Alchron aluminum, and two gold and black Alchron aluminum models. Alchron was originally developed as a special material for aviation and racing orders. Today, this high-tech alloy is used in watchmaking. Its magnetic permeability is only 1/50 of that of steel. This ultra-corrosion-resistant material has extremely strong mechanical properties, with a Vickers hardness of 210 HV. Before it was used to build Stratos watches, Alchron alloys were subjected to a series of tests: corrosion resistance in salt spray, tropical climate and artificial sweat tests, and finally passed a rigorous pendulum impact tester test. The test machine is similar to a precision balance, with a steel pendulum fixed to the end of a swing arm and striking the case vigorously. Needless to say, the purpose of these tests is to protect the El Primero movement with its sturdy alloy, giving it the best technical performance.
Zenith has always adhered to the great ideals of its founders: to create branded timepieces entirely manufactured by the watch factory. Every watch is made by a craftsman in the watch factory: the average manufacturing time is 9 months, and after 24 processes, the craftsmen work together to ensure that each watch benefits from the exquisite craftsmanship that has been passed down for 150 years. The Zenith Stratos series includes five home-made watches, in line with the navigation instruments on the cockpit dashboard of Europe’s largest air force flight formation.