HISTORY OF ZENITH

HISTORY OF ZENITH

ZENITH - THE SLEEPING BEAUTY

THE MOST TITLED BRAND IN THE FIELD OF PRECISION

Since its beginning, Zenith has been recognized with more than 1565/1 by the observatory prizes in chronometry, making it the Swiss brand most rewarded in terms of accuracy.

FOUNDATION - 1865

Only 22 years old, too young, in 1865 Georges Favre-Jacot founded the "Fabrique des Billodes" in Le Locle.

Georges Favre-Jacot - Founder of Zenith

First he manufactured precision pocket watches, which were signed with his name.

By 1900 the product range was expanded: There were onboard timers, clocks, pendulum clocks, precision marine chronometers and later.

The name "ZENITH" came to his mind when he developed a movement that seemed more perfect than all the previous ones.

Looking at the sky full of stars, it seemed like the set of wheels and cones in a perfect instrument mechanic, he decided that his new movement and its confection should be named as the highest point of the universe:

ZENITH

From this emerged a five-pointed star as a corporate icon.

Since 1903 the company Favre-Jacot and regularly participated very successfully in competitions of Neuchatel observatory with its pocket watches and chronometers aboard.

In 1903 he won a first prize in the Neuchâtel Observatory.

The nephew of Favre-Jacot: Favre James sold the watches to North America, South America, Russia, India, China and Japan

In 1908, followed by the opening of a branch in Moscow in 1909 in Paris, 1910 in Vienna and 1914 in London.

ZENITH BRAND

By turning the company into a corporation in 1911 to mark ZENITH emerged.

In the same year, Favre-Jacot retired and handed the management of the company James Favre.

By James Favre, there was a revival of old traditions, especially with the "Neuchâteloises."

These pendulum clocks were equipped with a new chime 8 days and custom, also had a repeat of a quarter of an hour.

In 1923, he founded another company in Besançon French, and in 1926 an additional office in New York.

After World War I, the ZENITH began with the development and manufacture of watches including chronograph and alarm functions.

The movements by Valjoux chronographs, Excelsior Park and Martel from 1960, were bought and used by Zenith.

In May 1929, the astronomical observatory in England told the public that 19,835 watches worldwide ZENITH a watch set a new record, with a daily deviation of only 0.6 seconds.

THE LEGENDARY "EL PRIMERO"

In 1948, caliber 135, precisely the most successful in many competitions stopwatch entered the market.

In 1969, he followed the first automatic chronograph "EL PRIMERO" developed along with Movado.

Mondia and Movado are included in the company and this merger comes to holding "Mondia-Zenith-Movado".

The development of automatic chronograph movement "EL PRIMERO" or in Portuguese "The First" had already begun in 1967.

Not only was the first chronograph movement automatic world, but also swinging movement with 36,000 A / m.

The "EL PRIMERO" presented on January 10, 1969, supplanted the dominant development of a consortium competing with Breitling, Heuer-Leonidas, Hamilton - Buren and Dubois Depraz Watch Company, which presented its product only in March 3, 1969 with the name of gauge 11 "Chronomatic".

In contrast to the "Chronomatic" "El Primero" is produced today with great success and is highly esteemed by connoisseurs as one of chronograph movements with the highest quality in the world.

In 1971, a majority stake in the company is taken over by the American company of Chicago "Zenith Radio Corporation," the largest group of America for the manufacture of electronic components.

The ZENITH was planned to be used as a base for the sales of quartz movements produced in the USA.

Believing in your imagination of the future Americans soon lost interest in mechanical movements, and in 1978 ordered the cessation of production of all movements and machines, and decided to destroy everything.

Thanks to Charles Vermot the move "El Primero" was saved for the future.

He objected to the order and hid large quantities of plants, tools, machines, and all design drawings and fabrication workshop in the attic.

In late 1978, the ZENITH brand was sold to the Swiss Dixi.

With the support of watchmaker Ebel production of "EL PRIMERO" was resumed.

Since 1984 there was again clocks made ​​from Zenith movements.

ZENITH PURCHASED BY LVMH

In 1999 ZENITH is purchased along with TAG Heuer, and became part of the luxury group LVMH Moët Hennessy-Louis Vuitton Group, the brand was positioned as a brand of luxury watches upper class.

The ZENITH plays a special role within the group as a supplier of manufacturing movements.

MEN BEHIND THE REBIRTH OF ZENITH

Once acquired by LVMH in 2001, Thierry Nataf was appointed CEO of Zenith.

Since January 2002, Thierry Nataf, who was also responsible for the design of new models as art director, was chairman of the Swiss watch manufacturer Zenith.

Thierry Nataf has the credit of having modernized the models and the company itself.

He managed to free the height of its brand image, a bit outdated, but with great quality.

Their mission was also the commercial success in a short space of time.

The turn of the century saw a ZENITH reinvented and their models of watches more modern than ever.

In 2002, at the Basel watch fair, the ZENITH has launched four new movements and 14 new models representing overwhelming 52 new variations.

There have been several innovations made by Zenith in 2000 and many new models were launched.

In 2009 Thierry Nataf is leaving the ZENITH and very nervously watches the world awaited the announcement of who would be the new CEO.

Earlier the same year Jean-Frédéric Dufour enters.

A man with a solid experience in the watch industry.

After graduating in commercial and industrial sciences, University of Geneva, Jean-Frédéric Dufour made ​​a tour through the high watchmaking.

Jean-Frédéric Dufour - CEO of Zenith

HIGHLIGHTS DATES

1865 - FOUNDATION

Georges Favre-Jacot brings together under one roof all businesses related to the control of each element as a whole mechanism. The Zenith was born and Le Locle remained at the forefront of watch production.

1899 - FIRST CHRONOGRAPH

The Zenith introduced the first pocket chronograph movement. The twentieth century became a time of need we need time, a prerequisite for the development of the techniques of industrial progress.

1900 - BRAND EXPANSION

The watch industry expands in Le Locle. At the beginning of the last century, the manufacture Zenith employed a tenth of the population in the Swiss city. The Zenith won the grand prize at the Exposition Universelle in Paris.

1911 - ZENITH NAME

The watchmaker-industrial empire founded by Favre-Jacot is now called Zenith, referring to the highest point of the trajectory of a star. It is said that Favre-Jacot took the idea one night looking at the stars.

1925 - INCREASE IN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

The development of industry in those years created counters for transportation (airplanes, cars, trucks, locomotives, etc..) Causes the number of employees does not stop growing. At that time, the company has already reached the thousand employees.

1948 - LEGENDARY CALIBRE 135

Introduced in 1948, caliber 135 made ​​several innovations. And was awarded by prestigious awards, a total of 200 events. Ephrem Jobin, born in 1909, was its creator.

1960 - ABSOLUTE ACCURACY ACHIEVED

A desk clock and pocket 22 lines, with the caliber 5011 K, introduced that year, a new record for accuracy (still valid today) in its class at the Observatory of Neuchatel.

1969 - EL PRIMERO

Birth of the caliber of world's most accurate number, caliber EL PRIMERO, so called because it is among the first automatic chronographs. He was until a few years ago the only one able to perform 10 vibrations per second, with an organ that beats at 36,000 alternations per hour.

1970 - THE OCCURRENCE OF QUARTZ

The production continues a tragic decade for the Swiss watch for the appearance of quartz movements from Asia. However, in 1975, Zenith is sold to American investors, who wish to undertake the manufacture of only quartz watches.

1984 - THE HERO

The movement to produce EL PRIMERO back up thanks to the heroism of Charles Vermont, a watchmaker who hid the drawings of mechanical parts and materials from U.S. investors who wanted to brand excluded from mechanical watchmaking.

1994 - ELITE

The launch of the Elite Ultra thin automatic movement, which feeds thousands of watches to date. Especially in the classic collection with the signature of Le Locle.

2000 -LUXURY FAMILY

The Zenith joins the LVMH group. Founded by Bernard Arnault, is the largest conglomerate of luxury brands on the planet. Gains stability and is part of the family and in the same house as Louis Vuitton and TAG Heuer.

2003 - HEART TO VIEW

The Concept "Heart in sight" is created, in which Zenith watches can show the regulator part through the dial. In most cases what is visible is the inside diameter of the El Primero. This idea is used in many models of the brand.

2009 - 40th ANNIVERSARY OF EL PRIMERO

A decisive year for Zenith. Its current president, Jean-Frédéric Dufour, took command of the company, while the 40th anniversary of the launch of the El Primero caliber. Since then, management has been a success.

2010 - LEGENDARY MODELS

The Zenith has a winning season. This year, the series premiered Zenith El Primero Striking 10th and features Christophe Colomb, the first wristwatch inspired by marine chronometers and recreated the figure of Christopher Columbus.

2012 - FIRST WATCH BREAK THE SPEED OF SOUND

Using the Zenith El Primero Stratos, its ambassador, Felix Baumgartner break the speed of sound and beats three world records.

Felix reached a maximum speed of 1,342.8 miles / hour through the vacuum near the stratosphere, before being retarded by air during its free fall 4:20 minutes.

ZENITH

The fate of Zenith was sealed and will always be closely connected with the manufacture of instruments of time.

Representing a rare phenomenon in the watch industry, the Manufacture is still located in the exact spot where the founder built his first workshop.

Until today ZENITH remains one of the few manufacturers able to produce all parts of their watches.

It is also the first manufacturing having developed in 1969 a automatic chronograph with column wheel integrated high frequency powered by the legendary El Primero movement with 36,000 vibrations per hour.

This obsession with precision, and that constant search for technical innovation were rewarded properly.

In almost a century and a half since its founding, the Manufacture was awarded 2333 prize timing, as well as eight medals.

Thus becoming the brand with more titles in the field of precision.

They developed to date more than 600 variations of motion and 300 registered patents, they all provide eloquent testimony of this experience unrivaled technique.

Heir to the best Swiss watchmaking tradition, Zenith perpetuates the commitment honored with precision and quality.

FOR MORE INFORMATIONS:
SITE:
www.zenith-watches.com

Published by José Sousa