The Bite Magazine - Autumn/Winter 2024 - Issue 36

LEICA WETZLAR bitewatches ZEITMESSER T ime plays a pivotal role in cameras and timepieces, with the first capturing fleeting moments and the second em- bodying precision and craftsmanship. Leica, the pioneer of iconic designs and excep- tional camera performance, released their ZM watch collections representing a fusion of techni- cal sophistication and understated elegance that allow the wearer to carry a piece of Leica history on their wrist. The acronym ZM stands for Zeit- messer, meaning ‘timepiece’. In 1863, founder Ernst Leitz gained valuable experience working for a Swiss watchmaker at age 20; his skills laid the foundation for estab- lishing his namesake company seven years later. In 1986, the name was changed to Leica, taken from the first three letters of his surname, ‘Leitz’, and the first two letters of the word ‘camera’. Over a century and a half later, the brand’s ZM watches reflect ultimate precision, reliability, and craftsmanship, each made with the same passion as its camera counterpart. Last year, Leica unveiled the 50-piece ZM 1 Gold Limited Edition, which fused gold and titanium into an exclusive masterpiece. The model fea- tured a distinctive dual-metal case with 18-karat gold 4N and high-strength Grade 5 titanium. It paid homage to Leica’s first golden edition cam- era, the IA Luxus, introduced in 1929. The watch dial has a unique colour grade and sunburst effect achieved through a skilled brush technique and a remarkably steady hand. The indexes and hands are delicately galvanised. The Leica calibre LH-1001 movement’s power mechanism is expertly produced and assembled by hand at the Lehmann Präzision manufacturer in the Black Forest, Germany. With a simple push, the patented push-crown stops the move- ment, resets the second hand to zero, and ena- bles easy time setting. The model is completed with a grey-brown hand-stitched alligator leather strap with a butterfly buckle in 18-karat gold 4N. The design of the ZM 1 and ZM 2 timepiec- es reflects the timeless elegance embodied by Leica cameras. The brand’s distinctive aesthetics characterise them, combined with an innovative approach to classic timekeeping function, were brought to life by Leica designer Achim Heine. ZM 11 is a tribute to a creative legacy and a love for watchmaking. With meticulous craftsman- ship and a play of light and shadow, this model symbolises transformation, movement, and time. Leica Watch ZM 1 and ZM 1 Monochrom, in 41 mm stainless steel cases, are powered by the