From the doyen brands of the industry, Zenith is under the spotlight with its Academy Christophe Colomb "Year of the Rooster" model, exclusively designed for 2017, which is the “rooster year” according to the traditional Chinese calendar.
Although it has been declining steadily over the past few years, China is still at the forefront of the world’s most important markets for luxury watches. Manufacturers who are aware of this fact are closely following the traditional Chinese calendar and trying to get a share of the market by introducing special edition models exclusively made for the occasion.
Many different models designed for this year, called "the year of the rooster" according to the traditional Chinese calendar, were presented to the watch enthusiasts at the major exhibitions of the industry like SIHH and Baselworld. Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb “Year of the Rooster” is our favorite “year of the rooster” model among many others which are all top of the line timepieces.
The new model is based on the Academy Christophe Colomb platform, which the brand introduced in 2016. Therefore, it contains similar technical and cosmetic details with the past and current models in the same group.
The model is offered in an all mirror polished case measuring 45mm in diameter and 14.5mm in thickness. The case sports AR coated scratch resistant sapphire crystals on both sides featuring specially designed domed parts (with a total height of 21.40mm) at the lower sides that are exclusively made to house and display the Gravity Control module of the movement.
One of the most striking features of the new model, no doubt, is its dial designed for the "year of the rooster" concept. The dial, which is totally hand-painted over enamel base, is adorned with a colorful rooster figure. Beautifully finished like a painting, the dial sports a set of hands and indices plated in pink gold tone. The brand name and classic star logo is applied at the bottom left corner of the dial. Time display task is carried out by the sub-dial located at 12 o’clock with Roman numeral and dot style markers. The power reserve display is placed between 2 and 4 o’clock positions in a crescent shaped indicator. And finally, the small second’s sub-counter is located at 9 o’clock. Legibility is obviously is not the best feature of this dial which does not feature any luminous material application for improved visibility under dark environments either. However, legibility is never a priority for such a special and thematic model like this.
The model is powered by the brand’s in-house Caliber El Primero Ref. 8804. 45 jewels hand-would movement beats at 36000vph (5Hz) like the rest of the El Primero caliber family and offers a 50 hour power reserve when fully wound. The movement, which is made of 308 individual parts, features a Gravity Control Gyroscopic Module placed at 6 o’clock. This 171 parts module neutralizes the negative effects of gravity over accuracy. The movement which fills the case with its 37mm diameter is adorned with Guilloché and Côtes de Genève Rayonantes patterns that can be enjoyed through the wide sapphire crystal display caseback.
Zenith Academy Christophe Colomb "Year of the Rooster" model comes with a brown alligator strap. The rubber lining strap is secured by a Zenith signed triple folding clasp made of 18K pink gold.
