Zenith has released quite a watch-making marvel with their Academy Christophe Colomb Hurricane models. This new limited edition watch set eniriched this line and three models pay tribute to three South American revolutionary figures: Simón Bolívar, “Che” Guevara and Emiliano Zapata. The most spectacular feature about these watches is located on the case back with three surprises. These three heroes are represented through miniature paintings produced by the best artisans of the Manufacture. The greatest watchmaking techniques have been used to achieve these exceptional pieces: enameling, engraving and micropainting.
Zenith confirms their watchmaking tradition by using traditional techniques that have persisted for more than 150 years. Each detail is finely engraved and hand painted using a microscope to make the scenes even more realistic and dramatic. The new watches of the Columbus collection are equipped with a high oscillation frequency regulator sequencing the time in tenths of a second. The gravity control has succeeded in neutralizing the effects of gravity on the performance of the watch. 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 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.
Only three models of each reference of the Columbus Hurricane Revolucion are available on the market for a total amount of $ 1,257,000. The three Columbus Academy timepieces are offered in a very special case: a mahogany box with effigies of the three characters. The box can subsequently be transformed into a cigar humidor!
