“Jean-Frédéric Dufour joins us with deep experience in the watchmaking industry, which will come as a strong asset for pursuing the worldwide development of the Zenith Manufacture” stated Philippe Pascal, LVMH Watches and Jewelry President.

A Graduate in Commercial and Industrial Sciences (University of Genève), Jean-Frédéric Dufour assumed increasing responsibilities in the manufacturing, commercial, marketing and management fields of several watchmaking companies (Chopard and Cie Genève, Swatch Group, Ulysse Nardin). Prior to joining LVMH, he has been in charge of product development for Chopard Watches and Jewelry since 2001.

The ZENITH watch of Gandhi

The luxury watch manufacture ZENITH – LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Group – wishes to express the company’s keen sense of honor in seeing its name associated with one of the rare material objects cherished by the Mahatma Gandhi.

The pocket alarm watch that faithfully accompanied him in his travels is one of the many models embodying the history of the Manufacture Zenith – a history enriched by 144 years of horological expertise devoted to the service of time measurement. Georges Favre-Jacot, who founded the company in 1865, was deeply attached to the universal distribution of the watches that he made. Crisscrossing the globe to make known his collections known far and wide, he superseded national borders with a unifying message based on sharing the correct time. People need to synchronize their schedules in order to live together, and time is a universal value that units them above and beyond their differences.

The pocket alarm watch was born from this penchant for sharing that leads men and women to travel and to live together day and night by harmonizing their lifestyles.

The ZENITH watch of Gandhi

The early 20th century witnessed the development of travel, particularly with a view to boosting business in an era of international expansion of industry and commerce, as well as exploratory forms of tourism. The evolution and multiplication of the various means of rail, road and maritime transport generated new requirements during this period, including the need to reduce the volume of objects being transported. Waking up on time and having a dependable watch were essential prerequisites for such public transport, and travelers needed to be able to rely on a time measuring instrument that would accompany them by day and night. This concern was shared by the military, who found the wristwatch to be the best solution to the specific constraints of their activities.

In 1914, the Manufacture ZENITH, which at the time still bore its founder’s name, began focusing its production on high-quality watches housing refined movements endowed with complications. From 1915 onwards, the alarm watch became an iconic model within the ZENITH collection. It chimed by means of a hammer striking a gong that was separate from the case middle. The sound was clear and melodic, a fact that distinguished it from many other models of the time equipped with striking mechanisms that were less sophisticated but also less pleasing to the ear.

The alarm watch project had been the object of research conducted by the ZENITH engineers for many years already. A patent registered in 1913 for an “advanced alarm clock” describes a system that is different from that of the model finally chosen, but reveals the brand’s interest in this type of function.

The ZENITH watch of Gandhi

With this model, ZENITH introduced the perfect alarm watch that was neither thicker nor bulkier than a classic pocket-watch. The dual-function crown cleverly winds the movement in the usual left to right direction. In the other direction, it augments the striking-mechanism power reserve. The case middle is fitted with two adjustment pushers on either side of the crown. The right-hand pusher serves to adjust the time and the one on the left adjust the alarm time as confirmed by a subdial at 12 o’clock. There were several known types of dials, and those in enamel featuring painted numerals with a luminescent radium coating to guarantee nighttime readability date back to the early 1920s.

The seconds hand is classically located at 6 o’clock, as on most pocket-watches, which leaves plenty of space on the dial and ensures that the user can read off the time in a smooth, unobstructed manner. This particular model was a fashionable gift right through to the late 1930s and was frequently highlighted in the product catalogues of the period.

The watch can be placed upright by opening from below the second case-back that is hinge-mounted at 12 o’clock. This cover serves as a stand by slightly tilting the case backwards, and opening it ensures a more resonant ring. Whether crafted in gold, including in various luxurious enameled, chassed or gem-set variations, or in silver, nickel silver, steel or gold-plated versions, these watches have retained all the charm of the great ocean crossings and railway journeys for which they were indispensable accessories.

Through a simple function, this watch model serves as a reminder that a watch can also be an audible instrument, and guarantees the peace of mind of its owner who can rely on being awakened in good time. Whether as an alarm or to signal appointments, its extreme user friendliness reflects the reasons behind the success of vibrating wristwatches. ZENITH acquired useful experience in the field of making such wristwatch movements up until 2006, when the alarm function was integrated into a Class Traveller model, alongside other functions and complications enriching an El Primero caliber.

The Mahatma Gandhi watch strikes a vibrant chord in El Primero’s 40th anniversary year.

A truly legendary movement in contemporary watchmaking history, the El Primero chronograph caliber transcends time. The incredibly modern nature of its construction in 1969 enables the Manufacture ZENITH to continue writing new chapters in its adventures and to introduce ever more complicated variations on this inexhaustible theme since 2001. Tourbillon, split-second, large date, minute repeater, moon-phase, day/night display and world-time multi-city functions: the same spirit that guided the Manufacture on the dawn of the 20th century continues to inspire Thierry Nataf in sharing around the globe the pleasure of wearing a watch that ennobles the measurement of time. The zero gravity tourbillon that keeps the tourbillon flat whatever the position of the watch has enabled ZENITH to emerge victorious from a 200 year-long race among watchmakers the world over.

The only self-winding column-wheel chronograph caliber powered by a balance oscillating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, El Primero remains a premier movement in terms of its exceptional combination of reliability and adaptability. Capable of rising to extreme challenges, it is equally at home in the DEFY models designed for adventure and for battling the elements, the CHRONOMASTER collection imbued with refined elegance, the timeless CLASS collection, and the cleverly structured PORT ROYAL collection.

Firmly rooted in the 144 years of history of the Manufacture ZENITH, the El Primero offers watch connoisseurs the eternal youth of its conception and the boldness of its experience. Never one to choose simplistic options, it is serenely celebrating its 40th birthday in 2009 through a collection featuring an historical emblem and a three-color strip exclusive to this year’s models: red as a glowing token of vitality; purple symbolizing a love of truth and the truth of love; and an orange border synonymous with liberation.

The ZENITH star has thus been lighting the path of humankind for almost a century and a half, guiding it towards the universal ties that bind people together and inspiring them to share the unfathomable riches of time.

Thierry Nataf

“This year I wanted to celebrate the whole of this iconic collection, which, rather than staying in a fixed state of perfection, has always been able to rise above itself, each time producing a more accurate representation of the Master of Time.”
Thierry Nataf
President, CEO of ZENITH International.

Timeless in style, this collection, with its subtle Italianate overtones, threads its way between Tradition and Modernity. This icon of the ZENITH Manufacture, inspired by the neoclassical, is a celebration of Time. From the double gaudron case to the authentic barleycorn guilloche, it has a look that harks back to the great watchmaking tradition. Its boldly innovative design allows the 36,000 vibrations per hour of the mythical El Primero chronograph to be glimpsed at the heart of the movement.

This collection, timeless yet strikingly modern, which now joins the Haute Horlogerie universe along with the ChronoMaster Open Grande Date Moon & Sunphase, has been enriched with new complications over the years, thus writing new chapters in the history of the ZENITH brand.

The ChronoMaster Open El Primero 4021 Manufacture caliber
The ChronoMaster Open matches the watchmaking tradition with modernity, ZENITH uncovers the heart of Time and reveals the 36,000 vibrations per hour of the legendary El Primero chronograph through the opening in the dial.
This will be the first Open El Primero 4021 calibre.
The impertinence of the collection is creating a stir in the watchmaking world.

The applique numerals, the double gaudron of the case, the black alligator strap are the signature features of a new elegance.

The range is available in two sizes (45 mm and 40 mm), in rose gold with a silver guilloche or stainless steel dial or alternatively in stainless steel with a choice of dial in black or silver, with a smooth or guilloche finish.

A revolutionary technology allied to a daring design – this collection is reasserting its distinguished and ambitious style.

Zenith ChronoMaster

ChronoMaster Open Grande Date El Primero 4039 Manufacture calibre
In 2008, this collection was endowed with a new fully-mastered complication, the ChronoMaster Open Grande Date.
This innovative timepiece stands out because of its design as well as its sophisticated technical features.
The three patented disks for the Grande Date at 2 o’clock can be seen as a result of the outstanding transparency of the dial.

This translucent and unbreakable material – the result of space research – lightens the perspective, making it seem as though the numerals are floating.

The opening on the dial at 10 o’clock, the emblematic symbol of the range, reveals the El Primero 4039 movement composed of 331 components and 41 rubies.

The appliqué Roman numerals and barleycorn guilloche dress the dial which comes in rose gold for a classical look or stainless steel for a more contemporary design.

Zenith ChronoMaster

ChronoMaster Open Grande Date Moon & Sunphase El Primero 4047 Manufacture calibre
Masterpiece of the ChronoMaster 2009 collection, its resolute classical elegance offset by modernity: the ChronoMaster Open Grande Date Moon & Sunphase will surprise.

Illustrating yet again the Manufacture’s specialist ability, this unique complication of a Grande Date, Moon and Sunphase chronograph reveals a new El Primero 4047 calibre, with 332 components and 41 rubies, through the opening in the dial.

The barleycorn guilloche on the dial, the wavy guilloche on the counters and the moon disk, the delicately pearlised plate and the guilloched oscillating mass are so many precise and refined indications of authentic watchmaking know-how.

In one 45 mm size, the rose gold cases show off a silver dial whilst those in stainless steel offer the choice of a black or silver dial.

Aristocratic and refined, the ChronoMaster Open Grande Date Moon & Sunphase records the mechanical measurement of Time in style.

Thierry Nataf, President of Zenith International S.A. - © Zenith

The Swiss Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie ZENITH INTERNATIONAL SA belongs to the Watch & Jewelry division of the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy group, which it joined in November 1999. Since his arrival at the head of the company almost four years ago, Thierry Nataf has undertaken to, as he phrases it, “take ZENITH back to its zenith”. He has thus devoted himself to rethinking the entire set of collections and the brand universe, ensuring a subtle blend of tradition and modernity, techniques and emotions. This has been done by maintaining rigorous respect for the founding values, while adopting a consistently daring approach. In his own words, “ZENITH has now become a luxury Watch House which, by rediscovering its past, is regaining all its pride and, by dreaming its future, is creating its present.”

Appointed CEO of ZENITH INTERNATIONAL on June 11th 2001, Thierry Nataf became its President on January 1st 2002. He then launched the renewal of virtually all product ranges, while relying firmly on the historical movements developed by the Manufacture, El Primero and Elite. “At the heart of my concerns lies the Watch: sound, beautiful, balanced.”

Thierry Nataf studied at various French and American universities from which he graduated with several MA degrees in Corporate Management. He has served on the management team of companies specializing in electronics, travel goods and the luxury product industry, in the United States, Europe and other countries. Before transferring to the Manufacture ZENITH, he was international vice-president for VEUVE CLICQUOT PONSARDIN (LVMH group).