A new variant of the Leica Watch ZM 1, initially launched in black and silver as the L1 and subsequently renamed and released in a stealthy “Monochrom” edition, has been announced, adding a luxurious gold timepiece to Leica’s growing wristwatch portfolio.
The Leica Watch ZM 1 Gold Limited Edition is a “tribute to the rich Leica heritage of pioneering craftsmanship,” per Leica, and combines “two of the most prestigious metals, gold and titanium, into an exclusive masterpiece.” As far as limited edition products go, the ZM 1 Gold Limited Edition lives up to its billing, as there will be only 50 pieces offered worldwide.
The distinctive dual-metal case, which Leica says has been skillfully forged by acclaimed artisans, is built using 18-karat gold 4N and Grade 5 Titanium. The combination of golden and silver colors is an homage to the Leica IA Luxus, launched in 1929 as the company’s first gold edition product.
In 1932, Leica followed up with a gold-plated Luxus II, of which only four units were ever made. One of the cameras, found on an episode of Antiques Roadshow, was expected to fetch much more than its $620,000 auction price in 2013, but it is still one of the most expensive cameras ever.
Leica most recently revealed a limited-edition Leica M6, built to celebrate the Leitz Auction’s 20th anniversary, that combined striking gold accents.
Returning to the gold ZM 1, it features a unique color grade on its watch dial, plus a sunburst effect that Leica says is achieved “through a skilled brush technique and an extremely steady hand.” The watch’s indexes and hands are “delicately galvanized” to mirror the warm tones of the case.
On the inside of the timepiece is a Leica Caliber LH-1001 movement, produced and assembled by hand at the Lehmann Präzision manufacturer in the Black Forest, Germany, bringing Leica’s trademark “Made in Germany” designation to the golden watch.
The new watch gets a fancy new brown strap as well. It is made using alligator leather, which Leica says is sourced from a certified farm in the United States, and then tanned in Italy and hand-stitched in Geneva, Switzerland. The jet-setting band sports a butterfly buckle crafted using the same 18k gold 4N as the case.
Pricing and Availability
As a respected premium brand that spares no expense when designing and building its products, Leica is no stranger to eye-watering prices, especially with its timepieces. However, the Leica ZM 1 Gold Limited Edition sets a new watermark, retailing for $28,000.
The 50 limited edition watches will be available starting today through private, one-on-one appointments at select Leica stores, including in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia.
Image credits: Leica
Source link
