Harry Winston reinvents sporty chic with Project Z3 and the Ocean Lady Biretro

Company Release

New Delhi, March 8

The Z Concept: Platform for innovations

Harry Winston Rare Timepieces has consistently demonstrated a taste for challenges and devoted its energies to applying its philosophy – “nothing but the exceptional” – to each of its watches. In 2004, the brand once again set itself the challenge of creating an original and limited watch representing a bridge between heritage and modernity, in a subtle blend of sport and high-tech. This principle gave rise to the Project Z1, featuring a design and a material – Zalium, unknown to date in Haute Horlogerie – that represent a first step towards the Harry Winston timepieces of tomorrow.

2004 / PROJECT Z1: HARRY WINSTON MAKES A DATE WITH THE FUTURE

The first Project Z1, introduced no less than three world firsts: its material, zalium, used exclusively in the aerospace industry and patented by Ronald Winston himself; its self-winding chronograph movement with off-centred triple retrograde display; and its resolutely novel case on which the famous arches – a tribute to the frontispiece of the Harry Winston Salon in New York and serving as bracelet attachments on all other models – have been moved to 3 o’clock to serve as a crown guard. An elegant, sporty watch that is both slender and powerful, the Project Z1 was already entirely in keeping with the Harry Winston spirit.

2005/ PROJECT Z2: THE DIVING CONCEPT ACCORDING TO HARRY WINSTON

Thus launched, the concept was enriched in 2005 with a second complicated timepiece with a decidedly sporting character. The Project Z2 is the world’s first Zalium chronograph to be specifically designed for diving. Combining Zalium (for the case, lugs and back), platinum, a noble material cherished by the House (for the unidirectional bezel) and rubber (for the strap), the Project Z2 is a watch based on contrasts that is paradoxically also a study in harmony.

2006/ THE PROJECT Z3

Providing eloquent proof that strong concepts give rise to excellent variations on a theme, the Project Z3 is a fascinating new addition to the range of expression of the concept. A real innovation available in two versions– the Vintage Spirit and the Sports Spirit – both housing an automatic tourbillon movement with hour/minute display offset at 12 o’clock, developed by Peter Speake-Marin. Based on the shores of Lac Léman, this youthful British master-watchmaker has already cooperated with Harry Winston, most notably in developing the Excenter Tourbillon (mechanical hand wounding). A specialist of complicated movements, he is known for his expertise and his flair for finishing details.

THE VINTAGE SPIRIT

This elegant and sophisticated watch fully deserves its name. It illustrates the Harry Winston designers’ enduring love for rare and finely crafted objects – and in this case, for the grand luxury sports cars that distinguished themselves during the heyday of the English automobile industry in the first half of the 20th century. The decorative motif on the steel-coloured dial is directly inspired by the dashboards of vintage English cars: engine-turned or circular-grained – the latter being a finish usually reserved for the movement. The “vintage” character of this version is reinforced by the petroleum blue colour of the hour numerals, the hands and the two screws on either side of the tourbillon carriage. Another noteworthy detail is the strap, crafted from truly unique black alligator leather which has been given a special patina and features a petroleum blue back echoing the dial indications.

THE SPORTS SPIRIT

This sportier version of the Project Z3 displays a dial decorated with the famous “Côtes de Genève” in a deep, mysterious shade that makes a striking contrast with the radiance of the steel bridges on either side of the tourbillon carriage. The blue Superluminova hands and numerals confirm the vocation of this timepiece, as does the rubber strap adorned with the famous Shuriken, the four-pointed star that has become a signature feature of these models. Finally, as on the Vintage Spirit, the case is fitted with a transparent back enabling one to admire the movement…

THE MOVEMENT: AN AUTOMATIC TOURBILLON MARVEL

One of the finest horological complications that also embodies a brilliant demonstration of technical know-how – the tourbillon – beats at the heart of the zalium case crafted by Harry Winston.

Tourbillons are generally fitted on mechanical hand-wound movements. The movement of the Tourbillon Z3 is automatic thus classifying it as an ideal sport watch to accompany an active lifestyle and accommodate daily wear.

This exceptional timepiece is endowed with two original characteristics.

The first is both small and discreet. To grasp its importance, one must remember that the Z3 has a 110-hour power reserve (equivalent to almost 5 full days). Here again, Peter Speake-Marin has drawn inspiration from the simple mechanism appearing on the dashboard of certain English collector’s cars: a “warning” enabling the driver to know when it was time to stop at the petrol pump. In the case of the Z3, in order to warn the wearer that it is time to rewind his watch, this warning is placed at 6 o’clock on the hour-minute dial, meaning near the dial centre: engraved on a sapphire crystal, the black HW logo “turns” electric blue 25 hours prior to the state of complete unwinding.

The second characteristic has only thus far been used on the world’s most complicated watches: the carriage rotation system is located inside the carriage itself, thereby providing this micro-mechanical marvel with greater shock-resistance and enhanced regularity. This regularity is reinforced by a higher than average cadence of 28,800 vibrations per hour, ensuring a superlative degree of precision.

The transparent case-back enables one to admire the movement in all its intricacy, particularly the oscillating weight with its Z-shaped cut-out that emphasizes the unique character of the model.

A rare watch by nature, the Z3 is equally rare in terms of production, since it is issued in a limited and one shot series of 50 pieces per version.

2006: First watch for ladies within the Ocean collection

A CONCENTRATED IDENTITY “DIGEST”

The Ocean collection perfectly embodies the new face of gold sporty watches for women inspired to the Innovative Z platform.

While clearly asserting themselves as the guardians of a unique technical know-how and design – as displayed in off-centred functions or the famous arches – they nonetheless provide a majestic reinterpretation of the brand’s well-known genetic code, achieving a personality of their own that is both sporty and contemporary.

THE OCEAN LADY BIRETRO

As the first ladies’ watch of this collection, the Ocean Lady Biretro is both extremely feminine in terms of its gem-setting and highly technical in terms of its functions. Intended for a woman who is sure of her tastes and prepared to wear a less traditional watch, it embodies a sublime union between Haute Joaillerie and Haute Horlogerie and brilliantly illustrates a concept cherished by Harry Winston: “Rare diamonds & Rare movements”.

THE GEM-SET VERSION: 36 MM BRIMMING WITH EMOTION

Do not be misled by the relatively diminutive size of its 36 mm case, since it actually houses a mechanical self-winding movement combining a bi-retrograde indication of the days of the week and the seconds (at 4 and 8 o’clock respectively) with off-centred hours and minutes at 12 o’clock (with markers for the hours only), while a large date display appears through a window at 6 o’clock. The slightly grey-tinted mother-of-pearl dial is set with 96 brilliant-cut diamonds (0.32cts) framing the off-centred counters. The bezel, attachments, hinges and buckle are set with 90 diamonds (2.34cts). The sparkle of the stones and the white grey case is harmoniously matched by a grey alligator leather strap.

THE SPORTS VERSION: GENTLENESS AND SPORTY ELEGANCE

The Ocean Lady also comes in a more “ sporty chic” version. This singular and distinctive version on a rubber strap features a satin-brushed silver-coloured dial enhanced with Superluminova hands and blue hour numerals. This daring touch provides a magnificent contrast to the radiance of the stones set around the two off-centred counters. As on the leather strap version, the rubber strap variation houses a self-winding movement with bi-retrograde indication of the days of the week and the seconds.

A glamorous and technical timepiece, the Ocean Lady Biretro in either version will prove the ideal companion by day or night, for a woman of character.

For further information contact:

HARRY WINSTON RARE TIMEPIECES- Maryline de Cesare

82, rue de Lausanne – CH-1202

Geneva Phone: +41 22 716 29 00

mdecesare@hwrt.ch