This year, two fascinating variations enhance the Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium collection, as ZRC proposes upgrades boasting texture effects and up-to-the-minute colors.
The 2020-unveiled Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium collection pursues the journey which ZRC began with its Grands Fonds 300 in 1958. Like all the brand’s dive watches, it creates a one-of-a-kind bond between Humans and the sea. The 2021-vintage variations, pursuing the designed by divers for divers philosophy, set the scene for an unprecedented chapter, where performance espouses esthetics emphasized by shrewdly-chosen colors and finishes.
Reference GF 50686 reigns with the matt look of the sandblasted finish of its titanium case and its black ceramic and titanium bezel. This ensemble protects a dial fashioned in real carbon fiber. Dashes of blue on the comfortable rubber strap, the minute hand and the tip of the direct-drive highlight this version’s sporty character.
The solar GF 50698 reference combines a titanium case set off with a satin-brushed polished finish with a face adorning a gradient tone, black in the centre veering to blue around the edges. This time round, the bezel dazzles. Yellow stands out on the strap, the minute hand and the can’t-do-without “lollipop” central direct-drive.
These versions share various points in common such as their time data is all topped with Grade X1 white Super-LumiNova® emitting an intense blue glow to ensure excellent readability under any conditions of light.
ZRC accompanies us, across all the oceans of our planet, through all our daily dry-land excursions, with up-to-the-minute, reliable, multipurpose creations flaunting one-of-a-kind-style, perfect for satisfying our cravings for discovery, our desire for adventure.
Performance-dedicated innovation
A tour de force! With its 42 mm-diameter, 19.5 mm-thick case, the Grands Fonds 3000 is the first dive watch in the world without a helium escape valve whose waterproofness has been tested to handle depths down to 5,000 meters.
To accomplish this feat, ZRC took advantage of all the research the brand has carried out since 1958 for developing its Grands Fonds 300 dive watch as well as the state-of-the-artness embraced in its 2015 reissue. ZRC also chose to work with sturdy materials such as grade 2 titanium for the case composition and ceramic for the unidirectional rotating bezel. A 5 mm-thick sapphire crystal tops the ensemble. What’s more, the caseback has been split into two separate parts to optimize it. The first, a fixed one in reinforced stainless steel, based on 2 pivots, ensures the engraving remains straight along the 12 o’clock-6 o’clock axis. A steel clamp ring closes the ensemble without creating any pressure on the caseback seal. This combination means there’s no risk whatsoever of water entering the case.
Likewise, to this same optimization end, other elements play a Protection SystemTM prevents the strap from being attached and closed if the crown isn’t screwed correctly, for securing immersions.
The unidirectional rotating bezel with its 60 notches can be adjusted ever-so easily. The bezel, perfectly aligned with the inner side of the case chamfering to be 2/10th more withdrawn, won’t turn unintentionally or even jump. Incidentally, its gyration now makes a melodious clicking.
The ceramic bezel insert is optimally corrosion- and oxidation-resistant. As well as offering a host of finish possibilities, this material can be dressed in a wide array of colors and its presence makes the Easy Clean SystemTM system even more efficient. This cutting-edge patented system prevents salt from crystallizing between the bezel and the case by ensuring fresh water flows freely inside the bezel when it’s being cleaned.
The Grands Fonds’ case thoroughly protects the Sellita SW200-1 caliber in its sophisticated version. This Swiss Made selfwinding mechanical movement, beating at a standard frequency of 28,800 vibrations an hour (4 Hz), delivers a power reserve of at least 38 hours.
With its stylistic and technical features, the Grands Fonds 3000 exalts its status as an icon totally in tune with the times.