Zenith

I am currently at the Zenith Manufacture in Le Locle to witness the historical moment of the world's first presentation of Zenith's new Defy Lab watch, featuring a revolutionary, groundbreakingly new watch regulating system, which abandons the multipart balance cum hairspring principle for watch regulation originally developed by Dutch astronomer, mathematician and physicist Christiaan Huygens in January 1675:



Zenith's new oscillating system, developed by LVMH Watch Division R&D Institute under the auspices of a team lead by Guy Semon, for the first time in 342 years, does away with the regulating principle af a coupled balance and spring assembly universally used in mechanical clocks and watches (with the balance being a balance wheel, a pendulum or else).



Instead, and to my knowledge for the first time in history, a monolithic oscillator made of monocrystalline silicon coated with a layer of silicon oxide (at certain parts finer than a human hair), replacing the entire balance, balance spring and escapement wheel assembly usually comprising of about 30 single parts.



One can clearly spot that this device unites both tension (spring) as well as weight (pendulum) function:









Instead of the friction-controlled stop-release-stop interactions of the conventional regulation system, Zenith's new regulator makes use of topological changes of the silicon monolith. The absence of conventional mechanical couplings eliminates contact, friction, wear, slack, lubrication, assemblies and dispersions.

The following video illustrates the system:



Zenith's new ZO 342 calibre (sic, that name!) measures 32.8 mm in diameter and 8.13 mm in thickness, with the barely 0.5 mm thick Zenith Oscillator appears beneath the dial. It beats at the high frequency of 15 Hz (or 108,000 VpH), but with an amplitude of only +/- 6° (compared to the 300° of a conventional escapement). The entire movement provide 60h of power reserve and achieves a mean daily rate deviation within just 0.3 seconds, which is maintained for 95% of its power reserve, i.e. for 57h.





The small turbine-shaped wheel is the equivalent to the escapement wheel on the Zenith Oscillator:



Furthermore, the regulating system does not need to be lubricated, and is inert to influences of temperature gradients, gravity and magnetic fields.





Its chronometric quality is attested by a triple certification:

1. a chronometer certification awarded by Besançon Observatory, on behalf of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures
2. the ISO-3159 standard has been broadened: variations of around 0.3 seconds per day and per degree Celsius of deviation are certified, and measured on the thermal spectrum -7°C to +53°C, whereas the standard is limited to +8°C to +38°C
3. the ISO-764 magnetic criteria, exceeding them by 18 times (for the completed watch), meaning it can withstand 88,000 Amperes per meter or 1,100 Gauss

The production requires cutting edge laboratory facilities with clean-room conditions:













The new watch which will first house the new movement, the Zenith Defy X Time 10 Laboratory, comes with a new case alloy called Aeronith (developed by Hublot’s R&D department under the supervision of its director Mathias Buttet), according to Zenith a new material resembling an extremely solid metal foam which features superb technical advantages such as a low density of just 1.6 kg/dm3, which is 2.7 times lighter than titanium, 1.7 times lighter than aluminium and 10% lighter than carbon fibre.

The material is unsual, but this is something that I think befits Zenith's tradition, as long as one keeps in mind that innovation does not equal 'classical design'. Zenith supplied us with a few life shots:









The first 10 watches of the new Zenith Defy Lab series are released as a special edition, each single watch in a one-off design: 5 different colours, with either rhodium or gold plated hands an indices. They are already sold to distinguished collectors.



I shall write up a more an in-depth report on this outstanding technical achievement by Zenith in a few days - stay tuned!

But right now let me close with Jean-Claude Biver's words: “Without tradition, there is no future”, but also “Without innovation, there is no future”.

There is nothing to add!
Magnus

Note: Special thanks to Purist Sascha Glistau for sharing the images as well as the videos with me, and to Zenith, particilarly the Austria team, for arranging my trip - and allowing me to get my hands at the information early...
________________

Technical details:
Reference: 27.9000.342/78.R582 10 unique pieces (each is different)

ZENITH OSCILLATOR (CALIBRE ZO 342)
Monolithic regulating organ (Zenith Oscillator) made out of Silicon Calibre 141⁄4```
Diameter: 32.80 mm
Movement thickness: 8.13 mm
Components: 148
Jewels: 18
Frequency: 108,000 VpH (15 Hz)
Power-reserve: approx. 60 hours
Finishing: Oscillating weight adorned with “Côtes de Genève” motif

FUNCTIONS
Hours, minutes and central seconds

CASE, DIAL & HANDS
Diameter: 44 mm
Opening diameter: 35.5 mm
Thickness: 14.5 mm
Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
Case-back: Transparent sapphire crystal Material: Aeronith
Water-resistance: 5 ATM
Dial: Openworked
Hour-markers: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with black varnish
Hands: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with black varnish

STRAP & BUCKLE
Black rubber with alligator leather coating Titanium double folding clasp

Very interesting and innovative solution.

Looking forward to see how these will preform in everyday life.

Best

Blomman

Any idea on when these will be available in their portfolio? Apart from the first, piece unique ones?

Looking forward to hearing more about the watch. Truly remarkable breakthru...

Can you feel something on your arm independently of the lightness of the watch? The new material used for the case is really impressive too.

I want to see more now 😁

Thanks again

Best wishes

Alkiro

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Best wishes

Alkiro

Value and innovations to manufactures he leads and to the industry. Not only has he introduced innovations, he has applied them to products that are affordable and this can be enjoyed by many end consumers. I find such to be his most remarkable and admirable skill.

 but this is a game changer, although I have a weak spot for more traditional watches. That aside I feel confident that there is room for both being old fashioned and hyper modern 

but it will be a game changer for mid and low end. The potential cost savings are tremendious and that on the most labor intensive and thus expensive portion of the movement, the oscillator. Once these prove themselves on the wrist the quantities will be ramped up quickly and the cost will plummet.
Congratulations to Mr. Biver who has again bet on a winner.
Don

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. . . to describe this development, Magnus.  Mind-blowing is more like it. 

I'm trying to come up with an apt analogy, and the only one I can come up with at the moment is the comparison of solid state devices with vacuum tubes.  Totally different, yet essentially equivalent. 

Blown away,

Art

I didn't find the El Primero 21 that attractive on release but here they have managed to blend technology with a sleak case, time only, interesting materials, breakthrough movement, it has a lot going for it. Very positive. 

As much as innovative is this movement from Zenith , it makes the range of Zenith watches too Hublotish, however perhaps with a classical dial with luminous hands and indexes , it will be more classical and easier to buy for a Zenith classic watch enthusiast.The fact that the new watch case was designed by Hublot is not something good in my opinion and I wonder of the toughness of the so called Aeronith material vs 904l, Grade 5 titanium or 316l steel.Also what works for Hublot doesn't necessarily work for Zenith. Well, time will tell us if this movement is in the line of its glorious Zenith ancestors because what supposedly performs well on paper, doesn't necessarily perform well in everyday life.
Best regards
Georges

I hope not, but this double announcement seems to be paving the way for such an outcome – an edgier Zenith, trying to be somewhat akin to what the LABs are for JLC.
Nonetheless, kudos on the 60h PR, which is a refreshing change from ~40 hours many movements tend to offer.

How the technology is applied to making watches that are similar or not similar to Hublot or whoever, it is the fact that JCB has continued to innovate and not be necessarily confined to real world application constraints. This is what has been lacking in this industry - and I have a feeling, somewhat intentionally - and imho this needs to change.

Look at the Piguet 1150 which powers the Blancpain range, back in 1989 it offered already 100 hours power reserve. Also several other inhouse movements like the ones from Panerai or IWC offer 8 days of power reserve and still use traditional technology. Even Omega, Breitling, Rolex and Chopard have created movements with power reserve 60 hours of power reserve while using a traditional architecture. What is too new is not necessarily a good thing, things have to be proven reliable over the very long run before being said or claimed as stellar or truely exceptionnal.

watchmaking is honestly not so much about reliability or accuracy or long power reserve but rather about art and increasingly in recent years, innovations. It is about the spirit of being willing to evolve and to do things differently, even if what is created is no better or worse from a performance point of view. If we want performance, there are plenty of options on the market and I'm sure mechanical time pieces will not even make it into the door.

Rolex introduced its new chronergy escapement in 2016, Omega introduced the coaxial escapement in 1999 and Breitling introduced the B01 with self centering hammers back in 2009. The question is how very profitable is the supposed innovation and what are really its demonstrated benefits. Many people buy a watch that lasts not something based on hype or unproven reliability, the more fortunate buy art or unique timepieces, but this watch is a new technological level in watchmaking.Also Omega is the only one who offers a 15000 gauss level of antimagnetism, so that is 15 times more than this new movement.I am a skeptical person when it comes to novelties but let's see how the new technological marvel from Zenith evolves through decades

I don't think sales and popularity necessarily equate to the level of technological competence. As you said, some buy for status, others for practicality, yet still some for the artistic value and uniqueness and personal identity. What I admire is not necessarily the level of innovation but the spirit of truly attempting something new and the desire to apply the concept to making real products that are affordable to the masses, so to speak. This is what JCB has truly excelled in and I appreciate that. The mikrograph, the V4, the T2, he has brought otherwise outrageously expensive pieces to more reasonable levels for more can enjoy them.

Even Patek's complained that the Carrera Tourbillon based on the 02 movement shouldn't be priced that cheaply and yes the v4 and Mikrograph are unique and breath of fresh air for Tag which was and is mainly an assembleur not a true manufacture. Sure it is indeed refreshing to see something unusual and surprising in the horological world

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I was waiting for such a discovery since many years, when i realized that nobody wanted to invest in R&D to manufacture a new innovative geometry, with an excellent precision and reliability.
To me, the most important aspect is that this caliber is available in entry level watches, it's not the stereotypical toy made for few billionaires!
Once again JCB chose to shake the foundations of watchmaking with an overwhelming innovation.
Thank for the report Magnus, i'll need some time to analyze the infos ;-)

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First you have to master them ;-)
Some keeps breaking the rules while others continue mastering them it seems.

Much easier and cheaper write a sentence than draw a new caliber; this rule apply to the whole sector.
I guess that soon this technology will be shared with Tag and Hublot; likely the best is yet to come, in terms of innovative escapements/ oscillators.

Other brands will be able to buy it too. A bit like ETA used to be
Or like the el primero. So many brands used this legendary movement, zenith might have created another legendary movement that will have impact on the entire watch business

We’re not going to see this in any Bvlgari Octo (and certainly not the Finissimos) any time soon.
It will be restricted to thick/chunky style watches, which explains the reasoning behind the dual announcement of the Aeronith material.