The WorldTempus team first discovered the Leica ZM11 last winter during its WorldTempus on Tour experience in Scotland when we took it on an architectural tour of the city of Glasgow, but like all good things, it is worth a double take, as you will discover in this new series entitled “Five Things We Love About [insert name of a watch]”.
1. Snobbery Declined
As soon as a company from outside the watch industry starts making watches, there can be a tendency to dismiss them. When the Haute Couture fashion houses started to make watches, the watch industry raised a collective eyebrow. But just look at the likes of Chanel, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton today. The same could be said of Singer Reimagined, originally a restorer of Porsche 911s, or even Montblanc, best known for its writing instruments. But history has proven time and time again that companies with a flair for design not only CAN adapt it to watches but do rather a brilliant job of it. And for me, the Leica ZM 11 is the perfect example of two different worlds coming together to offer something innovative and unique.
2. Playing with the Light
I don’t think I have met a watch brand that doesn’t talk about playing with the light, but in the case of the ZM 11, this isn’t just storytelling, it is an integral part of the design. Take the dial, for example. It was inspired by the light coming through slanted window blinds. When you look at the dial from the top, it looks completely black, but when you rotate the watch on the wrist, the slats on the surface reveal an intense red that literally changes the colour of the dial. To my knowledge, this is a first in the watch industry, and it certainly enhances the experience for the wearer.
3. The Movement
Leica has chosen Chronode – one of Switzerland’s finest movement makers – to power the ZM 11. The automatic Leica LA-3001 caliber has a 60-hour power reserve and is precise to -4 to +6 seconds per day, but what they have also done is create a unique aesthetic that is in perfect harmony with the watch’s exterior design. The components of the movement have been sandblasted, brushed, polished, and positioned in such a way to look like no other movement you have ever seen.
4. Functionality
Quick- or easy-change strap/bracelet systems are quite common today, but Leica has gone one step further with their Leica Easy Change mechanism by creating a button that recalls the little red button you find on Leica cameras to change the lens. With one click, you can switch a rubber strap for an elegant titanium and stainless steel bracelet or a textile strap. This little detail is subtle, but brings the two worlds of photography and watchmaking together so beautifully, bringing a smile to everyone who discovers it.
5. Something Different
Last but by no means least, I love that Leica is offering something completely different. When there are so many watch models on the market that look very similar to each other, it is refreshing to find a brand trying something new. So, for people who don’t want to follow the crowd, this is definitely a timepiece worthy of consideration.
