Leica Unveils Minimal Black & White Watches Inspired By Its Monochromatic Camera
Image via Leica
Photography is one way people add color to their experiences—but at the same time, it reminds them to practice discretion and not go hue-crazy. Leica appears to honor this less-is-more pursuit with two wonderfully pared-back ZM Monochrom Edition watches.
As their title indicates, the Monochrom timepieces borrow the design codes of Leica’s new M11 Monochrom camera, which is built with a sophisticated black-and-white sensor. The bigger picture, however, is that the watches also pay homage to contrast and light, “the most fundamental principles of black and white photography,” says Leica.
The special-edition ZM 1 and ZM 2 are stripped of all color, save for the unmistakable Leica red dot on the crown. Leica sparingly uses white to communicate the time via the indices and hand outlines.
The watches’ stainless steel case and bezel are covered in PVD black coating, while the strap is constructed from strong-grained black calf leather, mirroring the finish of the muse.
As with other pieces in the ZM line (short for Zeitmesser, the German word for timepiece), the new watches have a camera shutter-shaped push-crown that pauses movement and resets the small seconds hand to zero when you press into it. There’s also a domed sapphire crystal, nodding to a camera lens.
Leica’s ZM Monochrom Edition watches, made in Germany, are expected to be available next month in select stores around the world. In Europe, the ZM 1 will set users back €11,550 (US$12,700), while the ZM 2—which can display a second time zone and has a day/night indicator—will be sold for €15,450 (US$17,000).
[via Uncrate and HiConsumption, images via Leica]
