Calling all nerds! With this update to the highly technical Academy Christophe Colomb tourbillon, Zenith has infused the watch with an over-the-top depiction of Felix Baumgartner's 2012 record-setting jump from the stratosphere. Here, an aventurine sky and turquoise Earth sit behind a handmade sculpture of Baumgartner standing at the edge of his capsule (right in front of the watch's power reserve indicator) before taking the plunge. It's almost enough to make you forget that gyroscopic escapement floating in a bubble at 6 o'clock. Almost.
First Thoughts: You'd be hard-pressed to dream up a more ornate tribute to Baumgartner's mission than this. Unlike previous Baumgartner-related watches from Zenith, this watch is more about art than function. It's beautifully made, sure, and technically the escapement suspended in a gyroscope is unbelievable, but would I want to wear it? Not so much. The most appealing detail is actually the black DLC coated platinum case -- who doesn't love a little stealth wealth?
