Zenith

Tim_M
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I think the company is at a turning point.

Zenith's reboot under the post-Nataf management is complete, and I think this year's novelties represented something of a refractory period. Clearly, the initial work of redesigning the models, realigning the collections, and repositioning the watches in the market's price structure is complete.

At this point, I get the feeling that Zenith's leadership is experimenting with a wide range of directions in which to take the company, but JFD hasn't committed to any of them as yet. We have baroque haut-de-gamme with the Grand Feu; we have futuristic materials and techno-appeal with the Lightweights; we have extreme conservatism with the Captain line; we have a tentative re-embrace of Thierry Nataf's greatest success and enduring signature, the open escapements.

With so many potential directions but so little clarity about which to follow, I wouldn't be surprised if the time between now and Basel 2015 is spent making some hard choices about where to take the Zenith brand for the next decade-plus. Certainly, much of this process could be eased if the public embraces any of the above experiments in emphatic (and lucrative) fashion between now and the next Baselworld.

For my part, I really like the Captain Annual Calendar. I think the multiple features of the annual calendar provide a good counterweight to the Captain line's plain aesthetic, which borders on austerity in too many cases. The annual calendar/chronograph complication has been a favorite of mine since it debuted, and this clean treatment with the Arabic numerals and three-tone dial color scheme is delightful. The dial combines the light silver disc, the gold numerals/chapter rings/hands, and the blue chronograph indicators to create a very elegant impression. Although I loved the original blue/black variant of this complication, the new Captain reference may be tied as my co-favorite.

Best,

Tim


This message has been edited by Tim_M on 2014-04-08 19:29:46