Harry Winston Project Z6 Black Edition Timepiece

The Harry Winston project Z6 Black Edition is the latest Harry Winston timepiece to utilize Zalium.  Zalium is a zirconium-based alloy used in aeronautical engineering.   Zalium is hypo-allergenic, ultra light weight, resilient and highly corrosive resistance making it an ideal watchmaking material as well as providing a rugged gunmetal finish.  To enhance durability even further, the Zalium is treated with a Diamond Like Carbon treatment. The watch portrays an image of extreme efficiency  and impeccable elegance.  A watch I could envision wrapped around the arm of James Bond where precision is crucial, and the margin for error is nil.

The project Z6 Black Edition is a mechanical manually wound movement featuring an alarm clock.  Quite a rare complication only available in Vulcain, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Blancpain, Breguet and Ulysse Nardin timepieces. However, this 24 hour alarm clock is a design unique to Harry Winston.  The alarm is set by the crown, and activated using a repeater style trigger at the 4 0'clock position.  A hammer fixed to the case  strikes a single block rectangular bell visible beneath the 7 and 8 o'clock position.  B) - creates a greater amplification of sound. Both the exterior placement of the hammer and bell, as well as monobloc bell amplifies the crisp Harmon's sound of the alarm.  A fully wound watch will create a 20 second alarm - see video below.

 Even with the alarm, the Harry Winston Z6 Black Edition has a 72 hour power reserve enabled by double barrels.  Both barrels can be wound simultaneously thus giving power to the alarm mechanism and timekeeping mechanism at the same time.

The dial is an intriguing compilation of dimensions, materials and colors comprising of 18 layered parts. The off centered dial features two overlapping discs, one displaying the hours and minutes and the dial below featuring the alarm clock.  Both time and alarm each have their own day and night indicator.  As with the former Project Z6 timepieces a disc in the shape of a shuriken— a ‘throwing star’ used by Japanese Ninjas slice the minutes into seconds.

Beneath the geometric composition of surfaces decorated with five different finishes including the Côtes de Genève pattern, pulsates the HW-1010 45 jewel movement comprised of  340 pieces.  The Project Z6 is Limited to 300 pieces and is part of the Ocean Collection Ref: 400/MMAC44KC.K2.  Cost: $48,900.00.

The Influence of Harry Winston Project Z1 on the Latest Ocean Chronograph Models.

Harry Winston's latest addition to its vastly popular Ocean Collection, adds an underlying ruggedness to a sleek elegance. One only has to have a quick look from Harry Winston's Ocean Chronograph Watch (left) to Harry Winston's Project Z1 (see below) to see an unmistakable likeness. Unveiled in 2004, the Project Z1 hailed in three groundbreaking firsts:

1)The Watch Material: Zalium, previously used exclusively in aerospace technology, has become a trademark of Harry Winstons for its use in jewelry and luxury watches. Zalium ,an alloy of aluminium and zirconium, is hypo-allergenic, resilient, corrosive resistant and harder than titanium and has a gun metal type finish.

2) Automatic chronograph movement with off-centered triple retrograde display is a prominent feature in the latest addition of the Ocean Chronograph Watch.

3)In Project Z1 model Harry Winston's signature arcs were moved to the 3 'o'clock position serving as a protection to the crown. This new arc position became highly popular and is widely used by Harry Winston.

In both the Project Z1 model and the brand new Ocean Chronograph Watch (available in 18k white gold), there is a tiny "porthole" at the very top of the minute retrograde arc, where one can perceive a seconds hand.

The newest addition adds a darkened streak across the watch like a band of freshly plowed snow (yes, I admit, the image of plowed snow is on my mind, as I do live on the East Coast), and exudes a sense of adventure. For a quieter elegance, the Ocean Chronograph crafted in 18k rose gold is an exquisite alternative. Poignant blue sub dial outlines add unmistakable distinction to a watch well worthy of recognition.