The Zelos Mirage Tourbillon is among the newest watches from the nonetheless new Singapore-based watch model. The Mirage Tourbillon is a high-end Swiss Made mechanism with a design that speaks to a selected era of watch lover. It additionally comes with a extremely inexpensive value and exhibits what can occur when conventional names in Swiss watchmaking mix forces with the highly effective entrepreneurial minds which can be serving to to hold the standard watch trade into its subsequent evolutionary section.
Zelos was based in 2014 and began as a kind of manufacturers whom you’d don’t know (on the time) wouldn’t solely preserve going, but additionally produce quite a few profitable watches finally changing into a “actual model.” This is a vital level to make as a result of watch customers are little question at instances confused what to make of begin up watch manufacturers. Do you have to take them significantly in the event you like their artistic power, or must you sit by idly and wait a number of years for them to show themselves? It’s true that whereas many begin up manufacturers fail, not less than a number of of them persist on, yearly gaining legitimacy and the respect of even conservative watch lovers with loyalty solely to the oldest names in horological luxurious. Right now, I really feel that many begin up watch makers not solely supply viable options to the standard “large names,” however in additional than as soon as occasion are themselves being groomed to be one of many large names sooner or later.
Zelos received itself began, as many fashionable watch manufacturers do, on Kickstarter. In 2016, when aBlogtoWatch featured the Zelos Hammerhead Kickstarter marketing campaign, it might have been inconceivable to know the corporate wouldn’t solely diversify but additionally mature with age because it launched new fashions. Zelos has made a reputation for itself in combining fashionable design with organic-feeling supplies within the conventional classes of watches that do nicely available in the market (akin to diving sports activities watches and GMT journey watches). For that reason, I all the time encourage watch followers to maintain an open thoughts about new manufacturers as a result of not less than a number of of them (with a little bit of rising and refining) will have the ability to compete with the “landed aristocracy” of timepiece names, largely in Switzerland, in due time. It is for that reason that watch lovers circa 2020 are having a love affair with the entrepreneurial spirit and creativity.
At first (or maybe eternally), the Zelos Mirage Tourbillon watches will probably be a part of a limited-edition set. This pure titanium model of the watch (with PVD essential plates) will probably be produced as a restricted version of simply two items. Among the many 4 totally different Mirage Tourbillon fashions, Zelos is producing solely 10 items. The model positions them as halo merchandise to assist spherical out its rising vary of largely sport-style watches.
The previous couple of years in tourbillon information have been typified by headlines that concentrate on new ranges of affordability, in addition to high quality. In 2016, TAG Heuer launched its Carrera Heuer 02-T Tourbillon Chronograph for round $20,000, and Horage at present has its personal beautiful Swiss Made tourbillon for underneath $eight,000. Relying on the model, the Zelos Mirage Tourbillon prices between $11,000 and $12,000 and really definitely appears like a very good worth. That’s very true when evaluating different watches which have the identical or comparable motion as is within the Mirage Tourbillon.
To outfit the Mirage Tourbillon with actions, Zelos labored with Swiss La Joux-Perret, the corporate that produces Arnold & Son and Angelus watches. La Joux-Perret is definitely owned by dad or mum firm Citizen Group out of Japan. I consider this was an important motive the corporate provided tourbillon actions to a non-Swiss firm within the first place. I can’t know for positive, however I do know that some incumbent protectionists within the Swiss watch trade wish to preserve their most esteemed artisanship and approach for use for home-grown manufacturers. As the worldwide financial system for wristwatches continues to be a problem, I believe we’ll see increasingly more lessening of this conventional protectionist strategy to who Switzerland-based suppliers will promote to.
The final time I reviewed a watch with this identical motion structure was within the Angelus U51 diver Tourbillon (on aBlogtoWatch right here). That watch was a bit fancier and the motion was performed in another way, however it additionally price round $20,000 USD extra. That could be a large distinction. Now, watch followers can benefit from the magnificence and charm of a La Joux-Perret flying tourbillon however in a extra humble and chic bundle that’s priced to maneuver for as we speak’s zealous followers of high-end horology. The motion itself is the La Joux-Perret caliber LJP 7814 and is manually wound with 60 hours of energy reserve working at 4Hz (28,800 bph). Not like totally machined actions, the LJP tourbillon does include ample volumes of hand-polishing.
Aesthetically, you’ll be able to view the motion via the dial, and on this model, the primary plate has been coated in a darkish grey coloration utilizing PVD. It makes for a extremely engaging look underneath the clear dial, which is the place the hour markers are positioned. The watch itself has a slick fashionable design however is sized to put on like a demure gown watch. In a way, it’s a informal gown watch when in comparison with Zelos’ large assortment of sports activities watches.
The instances themselves are a part of the Mirage Tourbillon promoting level. This pure titanium model is the least visually “thrilling” however is sweet for conservative wearers. Evaluate it to a few different variations of the Mirage Tourbillon that use “Timascus,” which is titanium Damascus-style metallic. That it makes use of folds of metallic for a wooden grain look may be very unusual for titanium. On prime of that, the titanium folded collectively is barely totally different from when uncovered to warmth. That offers some variations of the Mirage Tourbillon case stunning colours like violet and blue. Zelos additionally has a Mokume Gane model of the Mirage Tourbillon with a Damascus-style case produced from copper and nickel metallic that can patina over time. The creativity and artistry utilized to the case work right here may be very particular, certainly.
Dimension-wise, the Mirage Tourbillon case is 41mm-wide with a 45mm lug-t0-lug distance. It additionally wears small as a result of narrowness of the dial in contrast with the broadness of the case. The case can also be simply 9.5mm-thick (with out the highest “box-style” sapphire crystal) and has a water resistance score of 50 meters. Zelos features a very elaborate presentation set that features an outsized wooden field and a leather-based carrying case that lets you carry a set of watches and in addition embody a number of extra strap choices to combine up the look.
Zelos is aware of what watch lovers as we speak need as a result of Zelos founder Elshan Tang is a watch lover himself. That explains how the Mirage Tourbillon feels each fashionable and approachable but additionally novel and contemporary on the identical time. Zelos just isn’t changing into a “tourbillon model,” however it was sensible to point out what it might do in a halo product utilizing a fascinating Swiss Made tourbillon and its specific taste or aptitude and horological decor. I’m personally very happy with the truth that aBlogtoWatch has been instrumental in serving to manufacturers like Zelos get the publicity they want so as to attain passionate customers to assist the model develop up and produce stunning stuff like this. Worth for the Zelos Mirage Tourbillon as photos is $10,900 USD (with costs at $11,900 USD for the extra elaborate case kinds). Study extra or order on the Zelos web site right here.
