Arty and hardy in equal measure.
The Project Z collection is quite unlike any of Harry Winston’s extravagantly bejewelled, ornamental roll-outs, setting itself apart in both spirit and form. Anchoring the watches is the material Zalium. A proprietary alloy comprising primarily zirconium and aluminium, Zalium is known for its ultra-hardiness and lightness, and distinctive colour, which is several shades lighter that gun-metal. At the same time, the material is said to be notoriously hard to machine.
Another well-known feature of the Project Z watches is their mind-boggling dials. Brandishing avant-garde looks and futuristic aesthetics, they are usually complemented by retrograde and jumping numeral displays.
Like its predecessors, the new Project Z14 is a sight to behold. The dial features an off-centred time display and a 30-second retrograde counter at the bottom. While the indicators are relatively ‘simple’, they are enlivened by spectacular embellishments.
Like an Art Deco sculpture imagined for the 21st century, the dial is an avalanche of lines, layer and angles vying for your attention. At its base, a plate with Cotes de Geneve decoration provides an eye-catching backdrop. Elsewhere, hollowed out bridges, a skeletonised chapter ring, blued screws, and a translucent sapphire retrograde plate combine to provide both visual drama, as well as offer legibility. The spectacle is framed by a 42.2mm Zalium case, featuring a chamfered bezel as well as trademark arches that recall the entrance to Harry Winston’s Fifth Avenue Flagship Salon.
On the inside, the movement that drives the watch is engineered with simple, purposeful performance in mind – an automatic movement with silicon balance spring, offering 65 hours of power reserve. As it is with previous Project Z watches, there are lots of ornamental touches on the Project Z14. In lesser hands, the approach would have resulted in a tangled mess. Conceived by a company boasting master jeweller’s design chops, the Harry Winston is a multi-facetted work of art.
|
Case |
42.2mm Zalium |
|
Dial |
Architectural three-dimensional dial, blue transparent retrograde counter |
|
Movement |
Automatic HW2202 |
|
Strap |
Textile effect rubber, rubber base |
|
Functions |
Ex-centered hours and minutes, retrograde seconds |
|
Power reserve |
65 hours |
|
Price |
RM107,400 |
