Some houses place heritage and innovation at the heart of their DNA. Zenith, which is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year, is the perfect embodiment of this. The story of its founder, Georges Favre, has become legendary: he left school at nine to learn watchmaking, became independent at thirteen, and married Louise-Philippine Jacot-Descombes while still a minor. His stroke of genius? Creating a manufacture where all the skills of watchmaking coexist under one roof. A revolution ahead of its time: vertical integration was born.
A geographical anchoring
Established in Le Locle, at the heart of the Swiss watchmaking cradle, Georges Favre quickly equipped his manufacture with the most advanced technologies. His buildings were the first in the city to be lit by electricity. Foundry, rolling mills, stamping, cases… everything was integrated. He introduced the interchangeability of components, automated production, and, above all, instilled in his teams a mindset that became the signature of the house: the spirit of entrepreneurship.
Over time, Zenith has made precision its playground and innovation its signature. Among its masterpieces, one name stands out: the Calibre 135. Designed to shine in chronometry competitions, it was produced and marketed between 1949 and 1962. These competitions, far more than mere technical exercises, celebrated the masters of time. Zenith reigned supreme, winning more than 2,333 chronometry prizes over the decades an absolute record.
In 2025, the brand pays tribute to this icon with an exceptional reissue: the Calibre 135 G.F.J. A platinum, manually wound watch featuring a dial in lapis lazuli and mother-of-pearl. The aesthetics remain faithful to the original, but the engineering rises to 21st-century standards.
Continuing the Heritage
Very early on, Zenith established itself as an essential name in chronographs. Records and world firsts followed one another. In 1969, the El Primero marked a turning point: the first high-frequency automatic chronograph, oscillating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, it achieved precision to the tenth of a second. That same year, the Defy was born act II of a saga dedicated to performance. In 2017, the Defy 21 pushed the limits even further: 360,000 vibrations per hour and precision to the hundredth of a second.
Partner in the Human Adventure
The story continues ever faster, ever higher. Zenith accompanies those who push the boundaries of what is possible: adventurers, creators, legends. From Felix Baumgartner’s leap from the stratosphere to the Rolling Stones electrifying crowds, and the sailing feats of Spindrift Racing, the brand celebrates the same spirit that of boldness and freedom. Legend has it that Georges Favre once looked up at the highest star in the night sky. In it, he saw an ideal: to achieve excellence in every detail. That star inspired the name Zenith, and a color became its signature, the blue of the sky.
Royal Blue
For its 160th anniversary, the Maison honors this emblematic color through an exclusive trilogy in blue ceramic: Chronomaster Sport, Defy Skyline Chronograph, and Pilot. Three models, three symbols, 160 pieces each. A celestial celebration of its heritage, reaching toward infinity.
