In a historical event on the international rock’n’roll scene, the legendary Rolling Stones will be giving a milestone performance in Cuba on March 25th 2016. To mark this unique concert, Zenith is unveiling an exclusive 5-piece limited edition timepiece dedicated to the partnership it has been enjoying with the British band since 2014. The new Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Tribute to The Rolling Stones represents a compendium of technical and artisanal brilliance, watchmaking prowess meets artistic craftsmanship in a prestigious model featuring a patented Gravity Control gyroscopic module and a high frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour.
Providing a perfect illustration of Zenith’s creative daring, the enamel dial of the Academy Christophe Colomb Tribute to The Rolling Stones highlights the excellence of the artistic crafts cultivated within the Manufacture in Le Locle. Its generous 45 mm-diameter rose gold case is topped by a domed sapphire crystal. The famous Rolling Stones logo, topped by a dedicated displaying the 50-hour power reserve, appears to burst out of the enamelled base adorned with the British flag. Now an instantly recognizable symbol of rock, the “licking tongue” with its red lips framing white was designed in 1970 by the artist John Pasche to express the rebellious spirit of the Stones. Hand-engraved Roman numerals mark the quarter-hours on the offset time display at 12 o’clock, while the small seconds tick by at 9 o’clock at the center of the intersecting, overlaid crosses on the Union Jack flag.
The exceptional nature of the new Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb Tribute to The Rolling Stones is powered by a movement combining two mechanisms guaranteeing extreme precision: a regulating organ with a high oscillating frequency —36,000 vph— dividing up time into tenth-of-a-second segments, and a patented Gravity Control gyroscopic module that neutralizes the effects of gravity on the rate of the watch.
These horological feats are performed by the manual wound El Primero Calibre 8804 comprising 308 parts of which 171 are devoted to the gyroscopic module. This manual wound calibre features 45 jewels and provides a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound. The exquisitely decorated movement features a combination of Geneva waves with sunray guilloché on its main plate and fully visible via the display caseback is a real treat for the eyes.
Crafted by artisans gifted with remarkable dexterity, each Academy Christophe Colomb Tribute to The Rolling Stones is a one-of-a-kind model, to which a rubberlined brown alligator leather with a rose gold triple folding clasp sets the perfect finishing touch.
On the wrist, the watch wears really big and high up due to the domed sapphire crystal on the back protecting the gyroscopic Gravity Control system. Surprisingly, the watch does wear quite comfortably. If you want one of the most impressive timepieces out there, with unparalleled wrist presence look no further. Only 5 pieces available worldwide.
Sticker Price $243,700 USD. For more info on Zenith click here.
