One of the toughest jobs for a watch blogger is to find a broad enough spectrum of material to write about. I diligently spend an enormous amount of time researching on the Internet for new exciting timepieces to feature on my website. Although there are a lot of watches on the market, not all of them are original. In fact a lot of designs are derivative of other well-known timepieces like Rolex, Panerai and IWC. However by delving deeper I have discovered quite a few small independent watchmakers producing superb watches at all price points. Geneva based company ZZ Watches perfectly illustrates this point.
ZZ Watches was originally founded in 2010 and derives it name from the owners’ (husband and wife) initials. So far my main contact has been with Valeria Zade. As well as providing a substantial amount of press material she was also kind enough to supply me with a company history. Although the business has only been operating a few years I feel they have achieved a lot. With degrees in business studies and psychology the owners previously had no experience in the watch industry. To achieve their prime objective of creating an innovative timepiece they worked closely with a talented designer. This has resulted in the production of two exquisite timepieces called the Cyclone and Tornade.
Even though I love both watches I prefer the chunkier façade of the Tornade. In recent conversations with Valeria Zade she explained that she wanted to design something visually different than many other watches available on the market. In my opinion she has definitely created a beautiful looking timepiece. With a diameter measuring 43mm, it exudes classical proportions. However the watch appears larger due to the oversized crown protection device. These dimensions should appeal to a wide variety of buyers including the unisex market. I also suspect the timepiece would sit comfortably on the wrist. Realistically this watch could be worn for most occasions (except diving and extreme sports) and definitely on a daily basis.
Within the series there are three models constructed from steel, DLC (diamond like carbon) treated steel and 5N rose gold. All of the versions are aesthetically different but in this instance my favourite is the 5N rose gold. What makes the Tornade so unique is the way time is displayed. There is a jumping hour complication located at 12 o’clock and a rotating minute disk at 6 o’clock. I love the decorative honeycomb dial and exposed polished bridges. Other striking features include the large crown protector device and stylish three-dimensional ZZ logo. Overall the composition is refined and the finishing is absolutely first class.
Beneath the luxurious 5N gold exterior lies a self-winding Soprod A10 base movement modified to the company’s exact specifications. The Calibre ZZ001 comprises 25-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). Generally I love the timepiece but wish ZZ Watches had decided to equip the timepiece with sapphire crystal rather than a solid case back. This way the intricate personalized mechanism would be visibly showcased. Functionally the Tornade features hours and minutes. The watch also has a power reserve of 38 hours and is water resistant to a depth of 100 metres.
The Tornade has a black hand-stitched alligator strap with matching deployant clasp and is presented in a grey oak wood case. Priced at: 22,000 CHF (approximately $24,473).
