When it comes to luxurious watch brands, Zenith occupies the world’s top ranks. Therefore, you may assume you already know all you should know relating to this popular brand. However, there are some interesting information about Zenith that many people don’t know.
Here are seven of these interesting facts, facts you won't find even on the brand's official website:
1. Zenith May have been the First Watch Manufacturer
Zenith opened the very first watchmaking factory in 1865 when founder Georges Favre-Jacot decided to make all watch components under one roof. Before that time, watchmakers had produced the person components of a watch-the dial, the movement, and so on-separately. The idea of a wrist watch factory did not gain popularity immediately. However, it had become the model for watchmaking companies in later years.
2. Gandhi Owned a Zenith Pocket Watch
Among the famous people to have worn Zenith watches was Mahatma Gandhi, who carried a Zenith pocket watch. Zenith crafted Gandhi’s watch especially for him, equipping it having a special alarm. Someone stole the timepiece from Gandhi in the late 1940’s, even though it was returned to him shortly thereafter.
Gandhi left the watch to his daughter. Then in '09 an Antiquorium auction sold it to Vijay Mallya, an Indian billionaire, for $1.8 million.
3. Zenith's Calibre 135 Was a Benchmark for Precision
The El Primero is among the brand's most celebrated watches when it comes to accuracy. However, Zenith’s penchant for precision began in 1948. During this period, Zenith produced the Calibre 135, which became a benchmark for chronometer specifications throughout the industry.
The watch was awarded five back-to-back Neuchatel Observatory Awards for chronometry in 1950 through 1954. Zenith continued to create the Calibre 135 line until 1962.
4. The very first El Primero Got a Special Airplane Ride
The first batch of El Primero watches received a distinctive type of stress testing. The watch, using its new caliber, was connected to the landing gear of the Boeing 707. The plane then traveled within the Atlantic Ocean from Paris to Ny. While in flight, the timepiece endured temperatures of -62 degrees Celsius at a height of 10,000 feet above sea level.
Surprising even its manufacturer, the watch survived with no scratch. Except for the discrepancy forwards and backwards time zones, the watch showed the actual time before the eleventh hour.
5. A Zenith Watch Broke the Sound Barrier
Felix Baumgartner set records as he jumped from a height of 24 miles over the earth in 2012, breaking beyond the speed of sound during his fall. Zenith would be a primary sponsor from the event.
Felix was wearing a Zenith Stratos Flyback Striking Tenth during the jump. The watch thereby became the fastest-traveling watch in the world, apart from the ones that are transported through airplanes and rocket ships. This feat was probably the reason the timepiece won the GPHG award within the sports watch category that year.
6. Julian Tornare, CEO of Zenith, Is really a Man of Many Talents
Along with his brilliant career in the watch industry, Julian Tornare has additionally developed other skills on the more personal level. He would be a champion water ski enthusiast for several years, for instance. Tornare wears the Defy El Primero 21. He states it is the watch that best illustrates “what the brand is doing where it's heading.”
7. Defy 21 Is Zenith's Most Precise Watch Yet
Because of its complex calibration, the newly launched Defy 21 can measure up to 1/100th of a second. In order to achieve this level of precision, Zenith added a double balance configuration, giving the watch two individual organs for regulation.
The Defy 21's timekeeping standards run at 5Hz, also is the case for the El Primero watches. However, the double balance configuration amplifies the truth of the Defy 21 to a lot more than 50Hz.
Conclusion
Zenith makes important inroads in the watch industry. It also stands on the lot of history. We hope you have enjoyed this visit of a few of the lesser known facts about this beloved brand.
