Harry Winston is presenting the fifteenth timepiece in its avant-garde Project Z series. Crafted from Zalium, a lightweight, highly resilient material exclusive to Harry Winston, the Project Z is distinguished by its fusion of classic horological composition with highly architectural elements. Incorporating a partially skeletonized minute hand in signature brand colors on the dial, Project Z15 is a modern interpretation of the regulator
clock. Only 300 units of the limited edition watch will be available globally.
Developed in the early 18th century, regulator clocks, driven by a swinging pendulum, were precision instruments used to monitor and adjust other timekeeping devices. A distinctive feature of regulator clocks is the separation of minutes, hours, and seconds. Minutes, the true protagonists of regulators, are marked by a large central sweep hand, while the hours and seconds are often relegated to smaller subdials. Inspired by regulator clocks, a large and partially skeletonized hand with blue and red extremities marks the passing minutes on the blue counter on the Project Z15’s dial. This hand and other elements of the Harry Winston Project Z15 pay homage to Mr. Winston and to the city where he founded his eponymous jewelry brand in 1932. The color blue used prominently throughout the piece is intimately associated with the House of Harry Winston and recalls the rare 45.52-carat blue Hope Diamond that Mr. Winston famously acquired in 1949. Mirroring one another, the bridges form the shape of an octagon, another recurrent theme at Harry Winston given Mr. Winston’s preference for emerald-cut gemstones. The octagonal emerald shape is repeated in the signature gold Harry Winston logo at noon.
Arranged at different heights to produce an overall impression of volume and depth, Project Z15 evokes the solid steel superstructures of skyscrapers and suspension bridges that characterized New York City in the early 20th century. The openworked bridges traversing the dial support two sub-dials corresponding to the hours and retrograde seconds, as well as the three hands of the minutes, hours and seconds. To ensure it does not detract from the all- important minutes track, the black hour disc with its central grid pattern is smaller than previous Project Z timepieces. However, legibility is never compromised, and the hour indexes and hand, the gold Harry Winston applique at noon, the minutes hand and even the twelve semi-hexagonal structures jutting from the minutes track are treated with luminescent material. A Harry Winston attribute, the seconds are displayed in retrograde fashion and placed on a blue semi-hexagonal structure with white markers. Once the red hand reaches the 30, it performs a retrograde jump back to zero.
Launched in 2004, all Project Z timepieces are crafted in Zalium, the House’s exclusive zirconium-based alloy that is ultra-lightweight and resistant to corrosion. The gray Zalium case, which has a 42.2 mm diameter and a height of 10.7 mm, displays a sporty satin finish throughout, including the hallmark Harry Winston arches guarding the crown. The Project Z15 is designed for everyday wear and is water-resistant up to 100 meters.
The sapphire crystal case back offers a view of the Harry Winston automatic calibre HW3207. Fitted with 226 components and 34 jewels, the movement offers a robust 65-hour power reserve. In compliance with Harry Winston’s impeccable mechanical standards, the movement is regulated by a flat silicon balance spring, which guarantees exceptional long-term precision. The caliber also honors traditional watchmaking finishes with radiating anthracite Côtes de Genève and is wound by the brand’s signature white gold open-worked rotor. The Project Z15 timepiece is presented on a sporty black rubber textile-effect strap with a central blue band and attached to the wrist with a Zalium folding security clasp.
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