Beauty & Style | Friday 29 May, 2015 1:54 am |

o women who wish to adorn their wrists with watchmaking creations combining timeless elegance and technical sophistication, Zenith responds with Star timepieces whose beauty is equalled only by the time-honoured expertise of the Manufacture. This year, the line welcomes three new and original Star 33 mm models radiating an undeniably seductive appeal.

ZENITH AND WOMEN: AN ENDURING LOVE STORY
Zenith’s visionary founder, Georges Favre-Jacot, consistently expressed his love for women through watchmaking. For 150 years, models intended for women, just as those designed for men, have thus been imbued with the consistent brand values of pleasure, daring and authenticity. From the pocket watches of the early decades through pendant jewellery watches to the complicated wristwatches of today, ladies’ watches are an enduring love story for Zenith that is regularly nurtured by new “declarations”..


THE THREE NEW FACES OF FEMININITY
Like the 2014 models, the three new versions of the Star 33 mm – one for daytime wear, another for evenings and a third for gala nights – are endowed with the charm of watches capable of combining seductive appeal with horological excellence. While the shape of their case is now entirely classic, the design of the Star 33 mm stands out this year for its creativity as well as for its spectacular simplicity.
The first model offers a horological interpretation of the Japanese paper folding technique known as origami, after which the watch is named. Like a sheet of paper that has been cleverly folded and then unfolded, the dial is designed in three dimensions to demonstrate the effect of this delicate art. The design is offset to 9 o’clock so as to create a visual surprise by making the small seconds the focus of attention, albeit in a charmingly discreet way. Four brilliant-cut diamonds serving as hour-markers punctuate the passing hours for this delightfully fresh watch that is proving extremely successful.
The second version adorns the wrist with a spring-like touch lent by its dial that has been given a very special treatment: against a white mother-of-pearl backdrop, several layers of colours appear to be printed so as to achieve various hues of red as well as a shading effect. A silhouetted structure is then applied to create the shape of the petals and the rhodium effect. The cabochon set on the winding crown is a discreet reminder of the dominant dial colour.
The third watch features a case, dial and pin buckle hand-set with brilliant-cut diamonds totalling 0.54 cts. Its dial is an 18K gold plate on which three master artisans have lavished their attention: the engraver, who has hand-drawn the floral motif; the enamellist, who has delicately coated the petals with transparent blue enamel; and the gemsetter, who has adorned the rim with diamonds. Just as on the other models, the distinctive nature of this flower lies in the fact that its “offset centre” contains the small seconds at 9 o’clock. Simply spectacular.
Free of horological complications, these three two-hand models are driven by the Elite 681 ultra-thin automatic Manufacture calibre. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 VpH (4 Hz) and water-resistant to 30 metres, this movement is endowed with a minimum 50-hour power reserve and its oscillating weight is adorned with a Côtes de Genève motif, a signature feature of high-end movements. It may in addition be admired through the transparent sapphire crystal case-back – and all at a total thickness of less than one centimetre!


ZENITH: THE FINEST DIAMONDS.
To ensure its gemset jewellery watches shine with exceptional radiance, Zenith uses only exceptional baguette- and brilliant-cut diamonds, as required to meet the demands of impeccable quality. They are thus the purest with IF, VVS and VS clarity, the most beautiful in terms of colour, meaning graded D (for baguette-cut diamonds) and F or G in most cases. Keen on ensuring honesty, legality, transparency and good practice, the values that should govern the trade of precious stones, Zenith has put in place measurable processes that have enabled it to earn what is known as an RJC certification from the Responsible Jewellery Council, an organisation promoting the strictest ethical, social and environmental norms.