Thanks Art for the interesting details (and pictures)! I had to go back and look again at this very good thread and the original article :-)

Jun 20, 2022,06:02 AM
 

I think the Monochrome piece does, at least implicitly, explain the origin of the ten movements (see for instance the paragraph in the screenshot below or the subsequent one; the full piece is available at: monochrome-watches.com).






The concern myself and, I believe, other "Purists" had was actually *motivated by* the historical significance of the 135 Caliber. No matter how I look at it, this strange cocktail between a 157-year-old Brand that wrote important chapters of the history of this discipline, one of the "hot" contemporary Indies, and today's most popular auction house.....only strikes me as a conceptually unsophisticated, merely financial move smile 

While I find KV's technical expressions extremely attractive to look at (our esteemed colleague Bill's picture #2 is pretty good evidence in this sense), it becomes a reason of concern, in my view, when a brand "trades a piece of her own history for a few inward angles," in a clear nod to the fashion trends of the moment.

I'm entirely with you (and Monochrome) on the remarkable value of these movements in the context of Zenith's history. Let me phrase it this way: Had Patek --- obviously my favorite brand, and only 26 years older than Zenith! --- resurrected a handful of important calibers from the past century and offered one to me *untouched* by outside hands (or untouched at all! ;-), I would have enthusiastically offered $130k in return to take care of such a historic treasure! smile

Even though I'm not as familiar with Zenith, I'm pretty confident that ten of their faithful collectors, respectful of Zenith's long history as much as I am of Patek's, would have loved to be given the same opportunity ;-)

Cheers my friend smile

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Zenith, Phillips & Voutilainen

 
 By: India Whiskey Charlie : June 2nd, 2022-22:57
I am curious as to why this type of collaboration is needed? Photos: Monochrome ...  

I am curious as well

 
 By: Credor : June 2nd, 2022-23:15
And what is that price.

Exactly

 
 By: Credor : June 2nd, 2022-23:28
What is that price. Was my reaction.

Oh! 😳

 
 By: India Whiskey Charlie : June 2nd, 2022-23:41

Right on, your

 
 By: Gwai : June 3rd, 2022-04:28
assessment. Cheers Marc

;-)

 
 By: FabR : June 3rd, 2022-04:48

+1

 
 By: amanico : June 3rd, 2022-05:49

I was on the line with Bill Sohne, our first Omega forum moderator, just . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 19th, 2022-22:47
. . . a little while ago, Fab. He was at a Zenith event in NYC earlier this week, and got to speak with a manufacturer rep about the limited edition. Both images are courtesy Bill S; that's his wrist in the top photo. The critical piece of information mis...  

Thanks Art for the interesting details (and pictures)! I had to go back and look again at this very good thread and the original article :-)

 
 By: FabR : June 20th, 2022-06:02
I think the Monochrome piece does, at least implicitly, explain the origin of the ten movements (see for instance the paragraph in the screenshot below or the subsequent one; the full piece is available at: ). The concern myself and, I believe, other "Pu...  

I think I understand your point of view, Fab. Essentially, if Zenith had produced these limited editions wholly in-house . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 20th, 2022-07:03
. . . with minimal alterations, then there would be no issues: they would be Zenith chronometers thru and thru. That would be ideal from a purists (much less Purists!) perspective. I suppose the reason Zenith embellished the project with outside participa... 

Interesting ... A new observatorie, except with zenith 135 instead of peseux 260.

 
 By: als1678 : June 3rd, 2022-00:35
Except! None of the finishing is there! And the price is ... Well, such projects take time. This was planned at the top of the watch bubble. And say whatever you want, Aurel Bacs can sell watches!

Could they just reproduce the movement

 
 By: ifraher : June 3rd, 2022-00:51
And run out a watch for people who would buy one at £5k'ish? £100k for any type of Zenith is a no go, sorry, love the brand but this doesn't really make sense, producing what fans want for only 10 people...?

Well said 👏

 
 By: Pun : June 3rd, 2022-02:20

+ 1 from my side...

 
 By: RayStantzPhD : June 3rd, 2022-05:12
... I always thought Zenith should, now that they can afford because of the Hublot-style sale success of their current 'modern' watches (no pun, I also like Defy), reintroduce the Cal. 135 without too much changes. For the fans. The other type of fans. An... 

Maybe they are testing the water with this one

 
 By: ifraher : June 3rd, 2022-10:06
And might do a less adorned version at a later date. They did introduce a new movement a few years ago in the Elite line but it was killed after a year, the 6150?

+1, and here we are actually talking about a reworked dial, movement, and essentially everything else…

 
 By: FabR : June 3rd, 2022-10:41
As we love watches/horology in a broad sense, on a cultural/intellectual level seeing a reputable brand which trades a piece of her own history for a few inward angles is obviously concerning… But of course, KV is a top contemporary watchmaker whose techn... 

The movement is basically untouched ...

 
 By: als1678 : June 3rd, 2022-15:08
A few polished screws, a clean up - my watchmaker can do this and it will cost few hundred $$. No shock resistance either. In fact in the press release they say that they wanted to keep the special movements mostly intact. All very sensible ... Except it ... 

Well, the price is total impertinence!

 
 By: Speedie74 aka Mr. Torquise : June 3rd, 2022-11:00
Here is the recipe for a good cocktail: Take a legendary, but in the reality a common and not too expensive, rather a normal movement from an established brand with a rich heritage. Take a legendary bartender (Kari) to shake and mix the old materials with... 

Mine is just a zenith :)

 
 By: saniloc : June 3rd, 2022-14:22
So i just have also an steel watch, zenith finition and she is an old lady, but a special back made for ! ...  

Made for the watch

 
 By: saniloc : June 7th, 2022-09:32
It was a german company who make it for a friend, i just buy him the watch and i have the original case back

Thanks much for sharing your hansome Zenith chronometer . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 8th, 2022-15:41
. . . and kudos for commissioning a display back - nicely done! Art

Why is this collaboration needed? To make more money!

 
 By: patrick_y : June 3rd, 2022-16:57
Zenith will make the watch. Kari will lend his name to boost the marketing credibility for the watch. Phillips will find the ten buyers amongst its moneyed clientele. Each person has an important role in the big picture!

It's a lot of revenue! 1.3 million in one quick scoop!

 
 By: patrick_y : June 3rd, 2022-17:33
MING has to do 400 watches at $3000 a pop to get that kind of revenue! The entire collection of hundreds of M.A.D. watches sold so far probably hasn't produced that kind of revenue yet. Oh, and those ten people will think that they're winners. They're pro... 

Who in their right mind would buy this Zenith

 
 By: Brandon Skinner : June 3rd, 2022-17:38
…over a bespoke Kari Vingt-8 of your specification and have money left over?

🤚🏻 . . .

 
 By: Dr No : June 8th, 2022-15:46
. . . 👉🧠. 🙂

Can’t they just bloody

 
 By: Mr.Gatsby : July 26th, 2022-19:43
Drop the Kari collaboration, make it in stainless steel and drop a bloody zero off the price ? I mean cmon… 6 figures? My options are endless. Regards Gatsby