Hands On The Harry Winston Project Z9 Watch

By Pooja Agarwal | June 4, 2015

At Baselworld 2015, watch enthusiasts caught a glimspe of Harry Winston’s artistic side with the Midnight Feathers Automatic. But they saw another side of the brand, with the latest addition to Project Z timepieces by Harry Winston, a collection launched in 2004, designed to display its highly technical skills with next-generation materials. Keeping in line with the previous eight models of Harry Winston’s Project Z, the new Project Z9 timepiece showcases a case made completely of Zalium, a new ultra-light and non-allergic material.

The skeletonised dial is an open-worked 3D grid that extends up and over the inner bezel ring in the direction of the indexes. The two raised blue-painted chronograph counters highlight this even more, while blue-emission Superluminova brightens the dial at night. Further, the changing colours of the open-work date disk in the background indicate whether it is night or day showing a white colour during daytime and turning blue at night.

The black galvanic dial has 30-minute and 12-hour counters for the flyback chronograph complication. Due to the flyback function, it is unnecessary to halt the chronograph to start a new timing sequence, as a simple press of the pusher at 4 o’clock resets the hands. Small seconds are indicated in Shuriken style, while the date is indicated at 6 o’clock. The iconic Harry Winston geometrical motif is visible through the skeletonized white gold oscillating weight.

Unexpectedly, the large 44.2mm case is very comfortable when worn, because of the new lightweight material it is presented in. In terms of wearability, its sports-like exterior gives a refined look to the high-tech Project Z9 timepiece. The Zalium case also has unique colour, a dark grey hue, making it look totally different from other timepieces on the market for men. Shot-blasted edges with satin-finished surfaces give the case an edgy look.

The Project Z9 premieres caliber HW3304, a new high-frequency movement made in-house. Beating at a frequency of 5 Hz, the movement is quipped with a silicon balance-spring. The new in-house caliber promises a 50-hour power-reserve. A Black rubber strap with Clou de Paris hobnail motif seals the sporty yet refined look of the watch. Harry Winston’s Z9 comes in a limited edition of 300 pieces worldwide.