Harry Winston

Vlad — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:53:51 +0000

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1920 – Harry Winston inaugureaza The Premier Diamond Company pe Fifth Avenue, New York. In 1932, devine parte integranta a Harry Winston Inc, iar in 1989 fiul lui, Ronald Winston infiinteaza divizia Harry Winston Ultimate Timepieces, partea de orologerie a firmei de bijuterii.

1990 – Lansarea Biretrograde Perpetual Calendar.

1994 - Lanseaza The Galatea, un ceas facut din rhodium solid.

1998 – Prezentarea Ocean Chronograph, primul ceas din platina, pentru scafandri.

OPUS

In 2001, Harry Winston Rare Timepieces da frau liber ideii Opus. Conceptul OPUS se bazeaza pe ideea de a creea cate o piesa exceptionala de orologerie in fiecare an in parteneriat cu cate unul din cei mai de seama orologisti ai Elvetiei. Se merge pe ideea ca partenerii sunt egali si ca niciunul din cei doi n-ar putea sa realizeze un ceas atat de bun de unul singur.

2001 – In parteneriat cu François-Paul Journe, Harry Winston creaza Opus I, o serie de ceasuri complicate.

2002 - In parteneriat cu Antoine Preziuso, Harry Winston creaza Opus II Tourbillon.Tot atunci lanseaza si modelul Excenter.

2003 – In parteneriat cu Vianney Halter, Harry Winston creaza Opus III un ceas deosebit prin prisma faptului ca orele, minutele si data se formau datorita cifrelor inscrise pe niste discuri, iar posesorul privea prin niste “hublouri”.

2004 – In parteneriat cu Christophe Claret, Harry Winston creaza Opus IV.

2005 - In parteneriat cu Felix Baumgartner si Urwerk, Harry Winston creaza Opus V. Un ceas personalizat de faptul ca are orele inscriptionate pe niste cuburi intr-un sistem rotativ ca niste sateliti.

2006 – In parteneriat cu Greubel-Forsey, Harry Winston creaza Opus VI.

2007 – In parteneriat cu Andreas Strehler, Harry Winston creaza Opus 7.

2008 – In parteneriat cu Frédéric Garinaud & CSH, Harry Winston creaza Opus 8.

2009 – “A stunning feat of architectural engineering, Opus 9 marks the first time that Harry Winston has partnered with two, independent pioneering forces in haute-horlogerie. Both long-time Winstondesigner, watch maker Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, and designer, Eric Giroud, have contributed to some ofHarry Winston’s most significant timepiece innovations. Opus 9 is the first time that the duo has joinedforces to develop a Harry Winston timepiece design.”

“In Opus 9, diamonds are not merely a decorative element, but the functional element of time telling. Replacing the traditional watch hands and cyclical dial, time is displayed by two parallel diamond chains, for hours and minutes. Sleek and scintillating, each chain is adorned with 33 baguette-cut diamonds,Harry Winston’s signature shape. Vivid mandarin garnets are strategically positioned to indicate thehours and minutes. Meticulously calibrated, each stone is perfectly set into the links, to ensuremovement, while maintaining their brilliance. Crafted in brass, the chains are designed to maximize mobility while minimizing friction. Recalling Harry Winston’s iconic, invisible settings, the gemstonesappear as floating lines of light, seamless unfolding across the dial.

Maintaining the minimalist style of the display, the chains are powered by a strong automatic movement, concealed within the case. Transforming rotational time into linear time, a rack and pinionmechanism creates the lateral drive needed to propel the continual gliding movement. Though seemingly simple, extreme balance and mechanical precision are essential to mobilize the weight of thediamond chains. While chain mechanisms have been explored before, the added weight of diamonds presents a new technical and functional challenge. Stark and sophisticated, the sculptural case is designed to emphasize the functional beauty of the diamonds, while supporting the movement. Crafted in white gold, the frame is defined by a structural bridge, which lends both technical and aesthetic stability to the design. The central vertebrae of the watch, the bridge forms a lynch-pin lock that secures the mobile components of the watch in place,creating additional stability and shock resistance. Encased in transparent sapphire crystal, the case and movement of the chains remain visible at all angles – a poetic view of time elapsing.”

Project Z

Project Z a luat fiinta pornind de la ideea ca un metal pretios foarte bun pentru orologerie este Zalium-ul.

Zalium, the perfect metal for a wristwatch?

Zalium was developed by Ronald Winston, a noted chemical engineer, who, like his father, Harry Winston, knew how to distinguish a great diamond from a good one. As an MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) researcher of rocket propellants, he became an expert in the special zirconium alloys used in jet and rocket engines. He realized that a metal that could withstand superheated corrosive gasses in the high-stress interior of a rocket motor would be perfect for the creation of an indestructible wristwatch. In addition, zirconium is non-reactive and hypo-allergenic (it is used to make surgical implants and instruments), harder than titanium and almost as light. Its lustre hints at the fact that it is more commonly found on the moon than on Earth. Ronald Winston identified one zirconium alloy that seemed to give off a special gleam. He named it Zalium for zirconium (Zr) and the allium lily.

2004 / Project Z1

In 2004, Harry Winston unveiled Project Zalium to produce watches based on innovative designs and a material never before used in watchmaking. The Z1 self-winding chronograph, with its triple retrograde indications, established the theme for the subsequent annual series of Z watches — high technology with practical utility and groundbreaking designs that remained true to the heritage of traditional watchmaking.

2005 / Project Z2

Outstanding at depthHarry Winston Project Z2The second year took the Z concept a step further — or deeper — with the first Zalium diver’s chronograph, water-resistant to 200 metres. This use-designed watch is a fine example of form accommodating function in handsome style — toughness and dependability within a unidirectional bezel set in platinum. The blend of rare metals and a natural rubber wrristband heralded the fusion of materials that have, since, become a regular feature of sports watches.

2006 / Project Z3

Casual chic, or chic casual — a matter of styleHarry Winston Project Z3 Sport TourbillonDemonstrating how a sound basic concept can spark a designer’s imagination, the Z3 extended Project Z’s range of expression to that of a self-winding tourbillon with an offset chapter ring at 12 o’clock for the hours and minutes. The Z3 offered a choice between two styles — Sport and Vintage — to show how a few details can transform the character of a watch. Its movement was developed with Peter Speake-Marin, a highly regarded English watchmaker, well-established on the shores of Lake Geneva. Noted for his flair and attention to detail, Peter previously developed Harry Winston’s manually wound Excenter Tourbillon.

(Project Z3 Sport)

(Project Z3 Vintage)

2007 / Project Z4

Designed to let you ease your way through time zones and appear in the boardroom after a dip in the ocean, the self-winding Z4 is a watch that minds its own business and minds it well.Harry Winston’s ideal traveller’s watch is the fourth in the Project Zalium series, launched by Ronald Winston in 2004 as “watches of finesse and force.”The 44mm case accommodates two separate hour-and-minute dials for your business and leisure time. The associated graphic displays of daytime and nighttime, for each time zone, reveal, at a glance, when to place calls around the globe.By pressing the repeater-style trigger on the left side of the case, you can click from one time zone to the next.The easy-to-read date, quick-set by the crown, is framed vertically in the interplay of discs for the minute display and hour.Completing the indicators is the tiny rotating shuriken symbol — a multi-bladed throwing weapon, a feature of all Project Z watches — which shows that the movement is functioning normally.The sophisticated time-zone module was constructed in-house by Harry Winston on a robust, self-winding calibre.Blue on carbon black or white on anthracite grey balance clarity and discretion on four levels of the dial.

Zalium is the hard, light, zirconium alloy of which Z watches are crafted. Developed for use in jet engines, its hypo-allergenic properties and extreme resistance to corrosion make it ideally suited for watchcases. Its hue is a matte battleship grey with a celestial lustre and a dark, sophistcated gleam. The case has mobile lugs for comfort on the wrist, and those “in the know” will recognise Harry Winston’s emblematic motif protecting the crown.

Harry Winston is producing a limited edition of 300 Z4 watches. As an embodiment of Harry Winston’s promise to deliver “nothing but the exceptional,” this elegant and beautifully crafted watch is well-deserving of its place among the Project Z models.

2008 / Project Z5

The Z5, the next evolution in the prestigious Project Z Series by Harry Winston Timepieces. Bringing together for the first time two a tourbillon mechanism and two time zones, the Z5 caters to men who frequently traveler, as well as also to those who are in tune with the world.

Elegant form meets multiple functions in the Z5, the next evolution in the prestigious Project Z Series by Harry Winston Timepieces. Bringing together for the first time two a tourbillon mechanism and two time zones, the Z5 caters to men who frequently traveler, as well as also to those who are in tune with the world.

Capturing the distinct, sporty character of the watch, the marvelous complication, the tourbillon mechanism (automatic), is displayed at 6 o’clock. With the Z5, Harry Winston’s master watchmakers have added a new challenge with the inclusion of a double time zone. The first time zone – for the reference city – is placed off-centre at 2 o’clock, while the second, smaller time zone – for the visited city – is at 9 o’clock. A jumping display, in French, contains names of 24 worldwide cities corresponding to each of the 24 time zones. Further displaying the expertise in craftsmanship, the creators of Z5 have gone one step further by simplifying the handling of this complication – the hour and the city can simultaneously be adjusted by simply turning the crown.

A brilliant new demonstration of our innovative and expert watch making, Z5 represents the next phase of Harry Winston’s exclusive Project Z series. For the fifth time, the tourbillon is held in a Zalium case, a material perfectly fashioned by the company and unique to Harry Winston haute horlogerie. The vertical guillochage of the dial reflects the elegance and codified beauty of the watch. A choice of leather or rubber strap features an embossed, stylized three-bladed shuriken design – a concealable Ninja throwing weapon – the mobile symbol of Project Z watches.

Limited edition: 150 pieces

2008 / Lady Z

The Lady Z is the first women’s timepiece with a Zalium setting. Inspired by the mythical goddess Luna, design and function of Lady Z evoke the unique dualities and femininity of the moon — light and dark, subtlety and strength. Creating a celestial stage for the lunar mechanism, the lower part of the dial features an elliptical opening, with two moons crafted in aventurine for a subtle mixture of spangled and sequined deep blue. Each moon – one white, one black — is finished with a comet’s tail trace, set in shaded tones of diamonds and black sapphires. The whimsical mechanism is wound using a flush push button, located at 2 o’clock.

A two colored dial evokes the radiance and dark energy of the moon in its many phases. A luminous silver-plated dial features Arabic numerals set-out in eye-catching rays, creating a striking contrast with the black of the ellipse. A second dial captures the elegance of the night sky, featuring a dark background with the time zone illuminated by pavé diamonds. Set in Zalium, a rare and difficult material to fashion, Harry Winston’s master jewelers have impeccably set the bezel and horns with a series of exceptional diamonds, enhancing the elegant, feminine feel. A special edition Lady Z, shown without the numerals, will be exclusively available at Harry Winston salons.

Avenue Squared A²

Harry Winston introduces the A²: Avenue Squared timepiece, a statement of sophistication and style. Amplified and elegant, this modern interpretation takes the brand’s iconic Avenue timepiece to the power of two by exploring dualities in form and function.

The Harry Winston Avenue Collection’s signature, elongated shape is redefined with a re-proportioned, oversized squared case. Length and width are near similar in size, set in diamonds for a graphic, yet feminine feel.

This sleek, clean look ensures a full-panoramic view of the dual-time zone dial with two separate quartz movements. The two time spaces are joined within two diamond circles, forming an infinity symbol for added visual harmony.

Dual colors of the dial, for day and night, further enhance the balance and duality in design.

(A² Ladies)

(A² Men)

Glissiere

Harry Winston redefines the luxury wristwatch as a mechanical artwork in its third superwatch of 2006/2007.

A rectangular case frames a tableau of precision mechanics, recalling the wheels, sliding pistons and rails of a steam locomotive.

This kinetic sculpture is another astonishing timepiece, after Opus 6, conceived by the team of Hamdi Chatti since he took over as managing director of Harry Winston Rare Timepieces in Geneva in October 2005.

“Whether it’s with diamonds or mechanisms, Harry Winston’s purpose is to create a work of art,” explains Mr Chatti. “That means we always do it differently, because there is no art without originality.”

Manual winding and trime-setting system, direct drive through the back of the watch to the barrel arbor and under-dial work respectively

The most apparent difference is the winding system: on one side, two sliding blocks of platinum with toothed racks that directly engage the winding ratchet; on the other side, stylized wings that crank up the ratchet via pinions.

The steam-age power-reserve indicator along the bottom underlines the linear configuration of the movement. The flying tourbillon animates the endless locomotion through time in precise jumps of six degrees of arc. Its diamond endstone (Harry Winston oblige) proclaims a D-flawless finish throughout: the rails for the sliding weights are so smooth that oil would create friction.

A rectangular case frames a tableau of precision mechanics Black alligator leather strap with folding buckle

This mechanical installation can be viewed from unusual angles — through lateral windows in the upper and lower caseband.

Also unconventional is the manual winding and time-setting system — direct drive through the back of the watch to the barrel arbor and under-dial work respectively.

Following this year’s sixth Opus watch and a Westminster-chime repeater, the “locomotive” sets Harry Winston’s new watchmaking on an artistic railroad of colour, that combines motion and form.

vdodan / weblog » Harry Winston