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ZENITH is celebrating its 160th anniversary. More than just an anniversary, it's an ode to resilience, a celebration of an extraordinary heritage, and an invitation to boldly embrace the future. This milestone is the reflection of a Maison that has been reinventing the art of watchmaking since its origins, inspiring those who dare to dream bigger.
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HERITAGE
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The story of ZENITH begins in the mid-19th century, in the peaceful, mountainous town of Le Locle. Here, Georges Favre, a child from the Jura region, delved into the meticulous world of pivot makers and escapement assemblers at just nine years old. In 1863, aged just 20, he married Louise-Philippine Jacot-Descombes, who was also from a watchmaking family. Together, driven by their shared passion and supported by Louise's dowry, they opened what would later become the Manufacture located on Rue des Billodes in 1865.
THE SPIRIT OF PIONEERS
At the time, Swiss watchmaking was still based on the traditional établissage model: artisans across the Jura region valleys crafted individual components in their homes, each specialising in a specific part, before an établisseur assembled the final watch. But Georges Favre-Jacot was not one to follow the beaten track. A visionary, he dreamt of a revolution to bring together all the skills needed to create a watch, from design to final production, under one roof.
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THE QUEST FOR THE PERFECT WATCH
Georges Favre-Jacot had an audacious dream: To create "The perfect watch", where each element is interchangeable and adjustable. In 1898, he unveiled his flagship caliber, named ZENITH, before officially adopting this name for his company in 1911.
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WORLDWIDE RECOGNITION
This quest for perfection, blending art and science, was quickly recognized worldwide. At the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition, ZENITH was awarded a Grand Prix for its technical and aesthetic excellence. The Swiss Watchmaking Federation praised its "avant-garde artistic sense, paving the way for a new era in watch decoration", highlighting ZENITH's lasting impact on watchmaking.
SAVOIR-FAIRE
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Georges Favre-Jacot soon realized that, to achieve his dreams, he had to create a perfect synergy with all the talent and expertise needed to craft exceptional timepieces under one roof.
Today, ZENITH remains one of the few Maisons with all necessary expertise for designing and producing watches and movements under this same roof, where watchmakers, engineers, artisans, and technicians collaborate to create exceptional timepieces.
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PILOT BIG DATE FLYBACK 160TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - A TRIBUTE TO AVIATION'S GOLDEN AGE
ZENITH’s Pilot collection is a testament to mankind’s enduring fascination with flight. In 1888, Georges Favre-Jacot registered the trademark "PILOT," decades before the Wright brothers' first flight. This visionary move solidified ZENITH's connection to aviation. Early Pilot watches, essential instruments for aviators, featured oversized, luminescent numerals for maximum legibility. This rich history continues to inspire the Pilot collection today.
DISCOVER OUR PILOT COLLECTION
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DEFY SKYLINE CHRONOGRAPH 160TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - A DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
That same year, ZENITH introduced another icon: the DEFY collection. From its inception, DEFY was designed to challenge the conventional, showcasing the brand's audacious spirit and avant-garde vision. The original DEFY, nicknamed "coffre-fort" (safe) for its robust construction, immediately set a new standard for durability and style. This bold spirit of innovation continues to drive the DEFY collection today.
DEFY SKYLINE COLLECTION
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CHRONOMASTER SPORT 160TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION - A REVOLUTION IN TIMEKEEPING
The El Primero movement, a cornerstone of ZENITH’s legacy, is more than just a calibre; it’s a symbol of precision and innovation. Presented in 1969, this high-frequency automatic chronograph, beating at an unprecedented 36,000 vibrations per hour, revolutionized watchmaking. Its ability to measure time to the nearest tenth of a second sets a new standard in the world of chronometry. This groundbreaking movement finds its most prestigious expression in the CHRONOMASTER collection.
CHRONOMASTER SPORT COLLECTION
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G.F.J. CALIBRE 135 - PERFECTION IS IN THE DETAILS
Georges Favre-Jacot pursued a bold dream: to create “the perfect watch”. The mid-20th century marked the golden age of chronometry competitions, and ZENITH reaffirmed its supremacy with the development of the calibre 135-O, a movement especially designed for these events. Named after the initials of Georges Favre-Jacot, the sleek, slender and elegant G.F.J. brings back to life the legendary calibre 135, the most awarded movement from the golden age of observatory chronometer competitions.
160TH ANNIVERSARY SET BOX
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160TH ANNIVERSARY SET BOX
To celebrate its 160th anniversary, ZENITH unveils a special anniversary box set that includes three emblematic chronographs in monochromatic blue, the Maison’s signature colour.