In October 2012 for the first time ever a man broke the sound barrier outside a vehicle when he jumped from a balloon that was floating on the edge of outer space. That man, Felix Baumgartner, was the inspiration for Zenith in creating the Christophe Colomb Tribute watch. Wearing the El Primero Stratos Flyback during the jump, it paid homage to an amazing feat.
The most spectacular aspect of this watch is the self-regulating gyroscopic module. This is the first time for this type system to be used on a timepiece, and it basically holds the escapement in a horizontal position no matter which way the watch is placed. This might not seem critical, but it happens to bring perfection to this watch, allowing the balance wheel and the hairspring to remain horizontal consistently, which results in almost perfect regulation.
While Zenith has produced only 10 of these marvels, the momentous occasion that Felix Baumgartner delivered deserves the tribute that the Christophe Colomb signifies. While the dial is mostly turquoise, it is crafted to represent the Earth viewed from space, and then the upper section is created in aventurine Milky Way, as one would see it from the edge of the atmosphere. Featured on the caseback is an 18k gold power reserve that depicts the capsule, and the Earth.
While the sapphire crystal bubble is a stunning element on the watch, it was designed to allow the escapement assembly the room to move around. While some might wonder if the design is comfortable, just place it on your wrist and wonder no more. The watch fits like a glove and allows for a remarkable view of the movement. The 45mm wide case is polished to perfection and stunning to look at.
The inner working of the timepiece is the Zenith El Primero caliber 8805 manually wound movement.
The watch is operating at 36,000 bph, and supports such a complicated movement that only skilled artisans can assemble the masterpiece. Separated into three main parts, the chain, the gyroscopic carriage and of course the main movement, the Christophe Colomb Tribute piece is cased in DLC coated platinum and developed with such a combination that has rarely been seen in the horological industry.
So as a collector you will not want to miss such an elegant and exquisite piece of art. Wearing history on your wrist, sporting the timepiece that is a first of its kind, there are so many special attributes on this watch, you will not be disappointed.
