"What's that on your wrist, Mr. Biver?"
"It's a new secret watch with a top-secret movement. Why don't you gather around and take a look?"

"Can I photograph it?"
"Only if it's clear that I'm wearing it."

"Ok, sure."
"Also, you can't look at the pictures after you're taken them."

"That doesn't make sense."
"Feel free to talk with our third-in-command, Alec Monopoly."

 

New information from a to-be-published interview with JC Biver:

http://watchesbysjx.com/2017/06/bre...-reveals-radical-new-regulator-at-zenith.html

Having neither a balance wheel or hairspring, the movement relies on a rapidly vibrating, tensioned silicon component to keep time. Appearing to rely on mechanical principles explored in prototype movements like the Parmigiani Senfine and De Bethune Resonique, neither of which appear close to serial production, the new Zenith calibre will make its debut in September 2017 as the limited edition Defy Laboratory before becoming widely available next year.

The watch will be affordable, excepting the first 10 unique pieces that will cost approximately SFr30,000

JCB: The 10 pieces will be called Defy Laboratory. These are the 10 experimental watches and an experimental watch is of course more expensive than an unlimited production watch where we do 5000 per year.

But the final watch, which will be launched at Baselworld 2018, will retail for around 8000, 9000 Swiss francs. So those will be in the normal Zenith price range.

 

That sounds vaguely familiar...

 

Yes, just like Zenith relied on TAG Heuer to help develop the new El Primero 21 movement.

 

We all know that, but the TAG Heuer bashers will never admit it and will jump on the opportunity to spruik the fake story that David suggested.

 

The Zenith Defy Lab with the new state-of-the-art movement will apparently be launched on September 27, 2017.

https://www.deployant.com/breaking-...-edition-watch-new-groundbreaking-oscillator/

We met up with Zenith CEO Julien Tornare in a meeting where we discussed wide ranging topics. In the meeting, he revealed the new project Zenith is working on. A new oscillator which will offer huge leaps in performance. Comprising only of 2 parts (to replace 31 in a classical escapement), and will be protected by 21 patents. This new oscillator will be in a new watch, which will be commercially available from the launch on September 27, 2017.
...
What will be unveiled in Tokyo will not be a concept watch. It will be the first production of 10 pieces, all unique. The 10 pieces are now currently being offered to special clients worldwide. The watch, which we understand is provisionally called the Defy X-Time Lab, will be time only, featuring the entire oscillator covering the dial, and three hands. The price is a very exciting CHF 29,900 and will include a First Class air ticket from anywhere in the world for the customer to go to Le Locle to collect the watch in person as part of the special experience package.
...
The strategy will be to use this new oscillator in other Zenith watches, eventually with the entire collection using this new system. Perhaps a leaf from the Omega strategy of increasing the usage of the Co-axial escapement system in all the watches.

 

I don't I care either way.

I'd much prefer to see a "basic" thin three hander that can used on its own, or as a base for interesting modules (think JLC Ultra Thin).

 

That's what I thought. Flying first class on someone else's CHF and getting a watch out of it .

 

How long have you been waiting to post that?

I like the power reserve references.
30-40 hour average - 2824?
70 hour top performaner - 3225?

 

I'm glad they credit TAGHeuer appropriately; I mean, Guy is on stage now answering questions and well, he is TAGHeuer's R&D man.

It does bring up the question, who was manfacturing Zenith's silicon parts?