technology . It will still be pretty limited – to 300 or 400 pieces . We don ’ t know the price yet , but definitely less than $ 30,000 . Probably more like between $ 12,000 and $ 14,000 .
We will make a series in greater numbers down the road , but we have to go step by step because of the way the plate is cut . The watch ’ s precision is linked to a mathematical formula , and the difficulty is to make it in larger quantities . And it still has to be hand-adjusted once it ’ s finished . Eventually we will have refined it so that it doesn ’ t need hand adjusting .
Does Zenith have the capacity to service a larger collection of something so new ?
Yes . There are very few components – it ’ s a single-component oscillator – that is the beauty of the movement . So it is going to be quite simple in terms of maintenance . That ’ s a distinct advantage . It resists shocks much better than the usual escapement , which is very fragile .
Will you keep using the case material Aeronith ?
No . We wanted to use something special for the introduction , but we will not go into a fusion of materials on future models – this is not our brand . We will stick to steel , titanium , gold , platinum . That is Zenith .
Will there be a ladies ’ version ?
Yes , of course . We are starting to add a feminine to touch to ladies ’ watches , and I believe this is an interesting trend . I ’ m not sure today you need to make a dedicated line for women . More and more women are wearing men ’ s watches , but you need to add a feminine touch . It could be a strap , it could be a diamond .
I always think of the example of when I was a kid , I remember seeing cars for men and separate cars for women . Now it doesn ’ t matter any more . You have many men driving Mini Coopers and women driving huge SUVs . I think for watches we are in for that . We will soon see some Chronomaster or some other men ’ s watch with a colored strap or some other feminine touch . We haven ’ t done much in the ladies ’ segment , yet 25 % of our business is in ladies ’ watches .
Zenith Defy Lab operates at a very high 15
Hz frequency ( 108,000 vibrations per hour ) yet maintains a power reserve of 55 hours , about ten percent longer than the
Zenith El Primero . despite operating at three times the frequency .
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