Transparent, blue and unique: 273° «Saphir Bleu»

Our model 273° Saphir Bleu takes up the design of our successful model 273° Saphir Fumé. However, the process for producing the transparent dial in this unique shade of blue is significantly more complex.

Through the transparent dial, the elaborately decorated front of our manufacture movement is fully visible.

As with our 273° model, the date display is located at the unusual "11" position.

The dial is rounded off by an off-center second hand and a power reserve indicator. The sapphire version is powered by our ZW0103 manufacture caliber with a 72-hour power reserve.

Distinctively Zeitwinkel

The Zeitwinkel 273° Saphir Bleu is characterized by high suitability for everyday use and a comfortable fit. Particularly striking is the patented large date at the "11" position, which is easy to read even in poor lighting conditions.

The time display, power reserve and decentralized seconds are harmoniously coordinated with the big date.

The back of the watch with our manufacture movement caliber ZW0103 is also worth a look thanks to its elaborately decorated German silver plates.

Depending on the viewing angle, the dial appears more transparent or darker, and the color changes from dark blue to brilliant steel blue. The time can be read perfectly in all lighting conditions.

Our model 273° Saphir Bleu with patented big date, decentralized second and power reserve display is available with a case diameter of 42.5mm.

The date is of course displayed with numerals from our in-house Zeitwinkel font.

Dial and hands

The dials of our model 273° Saphir Bleu undergo a complex process of about twenty manufacturing steps, during which the indices and appliqués on the extremely hard sapphire crystal are created by means of a lithographic electroplating process.  

We worked for a long time to produce the transparent sapphire dial in this fascinating shade of blue. This turned out to be much more complicated than expected, so we can only produce very few of these watches per year.

The hour and minute hands are precisely matched to the indices. They are diamond-set, i.e. they have two straight surfaces that are set at an angle to each other over almost the entire length of the hand.

As a result, one side always reflects the incident light, creating a strong contrast with the dial. The date display advances by one day at midnight, so it only needs to be corrected in months with less than 31 days. Manually, the date display is easily adjusted by means of a quick adjustment in the second crown position.

 

The Zeitwinkel caliber ZW0103 is a mechanical manufacture movement with automatic winding and a semi-integrated complication for the date display. We developed it especially for our 273 series watches and manufacture it in small-quantity lots in the Swiss Jura with high precision machinery and meticulous horological diligence.

Based on our Zeitwinkel caliber ZW0102, we have added a self-developed complication for displaying the remaining running time and the date. We hold a patent for the special technical solution for the large date display at the 11 o' clock position. The running time of the movement is 72 hours.

The movement has the substantial diameter of 30.4 mm, 49 bearing jewels, a total of 387 components, a frequency of 28,800 oscillations, a Glucydur balance and a robust three-quarter plate that plays a significant role in the mechanical stability of the movement. All plates and bridges of the mechanism as well as of the semi-integrated complication are made of German silver, chamfered and hand-decorated.


The casing for our Zeitwinkel model 273° was developed in precise accordance with in-house caliber ZW0103.

It is constructed of 1.4435 steel alloy which has a high resistance to intercrystalline corrosion and non-oxidized acids, so it is particularly suited for products that are in continuous contact with skin.

To attain the characteristic shaping, each watch case is prefabricated using precision machinery. We then complete the construction primarily by hand. In this process, 26 parts are assembled in more than 80 individual steps.

The interplay of polished surfaces with strikingly structured, precisely worked areas provides every Zeitwinkel watch with its distinctive appearance. With a diameter of 42.5 mm, the casing has an elegant and well-proportioned appearance. It is water resistant up to a tested pressure of five bar.


We use sapphire glass on both the front and back sides of our timepieces. Sapphire is extremely hard and scratch-resistant and ideally suited for use in high-quality timepieces.

The convex lunette crystal has multiple anti-reflection coatings on the inside so that the hands do not reflect on the interior surface and because a coating on the outside of the crystal could wear down. The case large back glass is flat and equipped with an anti-reflection coating on the inside as well.

As a result, the time can always be easily read even under extreme lighting conditions. Both front crystal and back plate glass are tightly inserted into the casing of the watch, using an elaborate sealing system.


Due to its twelve grooves and its large diameter, the crown is very easy to grip when you set the functions of your watch.  The surface is polished, but is kept matte surrounding the raised Zeitwinkel logo.

Screwed-down crowns are often difficult to handle, so we decided to use a multi-stage sealing system with dual O-rings. Even when the crown is raised, water cannot enter the valuable inner workings of your Zeitwinkel watch.


For our leather straps, only selected skins are processed and refined with with the traditional full-bugg technique. The result is a supple and extremely durable strap available in various colors. For animal welfare reasons, we completely abstain from using reptile leather and replace it by high-quality hand-sewn calfskin.

The exclusive use of vegetable colorants, antiallergic leather as well as caoutchouc-based glues provide for excellent skin friendliness and pleasant wear. Our Zeitwinkel folding clasp is made of antiallergic stainless steel 316L and can easily be opened and closed with one hand, while at the same time being as easily adjustable as a pin buckle.


Our watches with 42.5mm cases can optionally be ordered with our durable caoutchouc watch straps. Caoutchouc has proven to be very skin-friendly and extremely durable not only for the use in warmer climates, but also in sports. It is waterproof, UV-resistant, tearproof and dimensionally stable.

We have redesigned this antiallergic strap from scratch from synthetic caoutchouc free from harmful substances such that it does not bulge even when worn for a longer period of time. The Zeitwinkel logos which are embossed on the inner side of the strap provide for a better ventilation of the skin and improve wear comfort.

The Zeitwinkel caoutchouc watch strap is closed with a high precision manufactured folding clasp made of polished stainless steel 316L that can be opened and closed with one hand.

Zeitwinkel 273° Saphir Bleu

manufacturer Zeitwinkel Montres S.A., CH St-Imier
model Zeitwinkel 273° Saphir Bleu
functions display of hour, minute, small seconds, large date and power reserve
running autonomy >72 h
case  
material stainless steel 316 L
height 13.8 mm
diameter 42.5 mm
glass sapphire, convex & with anti-reflection on interior
back sapphire with anti-reflection on interior
water resistance 5 ATM
crown Ø 8.00 mm, Bi-O-ring seal, 12 grooves
dial transparent blue sapphire
  appliqués facetted & diamond-worked
  small second recessed
hands diamond-worked, small second polished
strap  
leather hand sewn calfskin leather strap with flawless Louisiana alligator structure
  brown / black / blue / grey
rubber black or blue
impulse 20 mm
clasp  
leather strap folding clasp with Zeitwinkel engraving
rubber strap folding clasp with applied logo

manufacture caliber ZW0103

caliber ZW0103
version Zeitwinkel 273°
manufacturer Zeitwinkel Montres S.A., CH St-Imier
functions automatic winding
  small second
  balance stop
  large date display with quick setting at the "11" position
  power reserve indicator
diameter 13½ lines, 30.40 mm
height 8.0 mm
winding rotor, bidirectional winding
running autonomy >72 h
material plates and bridges german silver
bearing jewels 49 – large date version
balance Glucydur
spiral Straumann
frequency (4Hz) 28800 alternations / h
impact resistance Incabloc
adjustment regulation in five positions
decoration screws chamfered and polished
  ¾ plate and balance cock with Geneva Stripes (Côtes de Genève)
  perlage on interior surfaces of plates and bridges
  lining on wheel bridge and rotor
  edges of ¾ plate and bridges chamfered and polished

price Zeitwinkel 273° Saphir Bleu

Modell 273° Saphir Bleu
case 42.5mm
movement ZW0103
price in CHF incl. VAT 23,242
price in CHF w/o VAT 21,500

All prices ex manufacture in Saint-Imier / Switzerland in Swiss Francs (CHF) including 8.1% VAT. Recommended retail prices, all prices are subject to change without notice. Please contact us regarding options for dials and straps as well as current delivery times. We will gladly calculate the up-to-date price in EUR with the applicable VAT for customers in the EU.

We will be happy to answer any questions you may have about our model 273° Saphir Bleu.

If you would like to order this watch, please let us know your strap choice. We will gladly present the available options to you in a video call.

 

Please let us know which dial variant you are interested in and how we can help you: