Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. The New ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage Smoke
The taste of a bygone era and some retro charm for the niche French diver.
Except if you’re a hardcore dive watch enthusiast, ZRC might not immediately ring a bell. And yet, it is a rather important name for divers, particularly in France. An old company that once created a watch for the French Navy and delivered them for a good 35 years, the whole concept was brought back to life in 2014, and in particular the rather peculiar Grands Fonds watch. Recently, our resident diver and dive watch geek Derek took the top-of-the-line, modernised ZRC Grands Fonds Heterium for a test, and this should definitely be an article to read before continuing this story. As we’re now about to introduce the brand’s latest creation, the ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage Smoke.
While the watch we tested a couple of months ago, in Floridian waters, was the larger, more modern edition of the Grands Fonds, the watch we’re looking at today is part of the Heritage collection. And while specs-wise this doesn’t change much to the overall capabilities to go deep underwater, there are some notable changes a for the design and proportions. As you’ve guessed by the name, this Heritage model gets closer to the original 1960s Grands Fonds models, respecting as much as possible the style and shape of this niche hidden gem of French military watchmaking.
As such, the ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage Smoke is housed in a slightly smaller hexagonal case that measures 39mm in diameter, with an overall thickness of approximately 14mm. There’s no mistaken the GF for another watch, mostly due to its crown configuration, which is positioned at 6 o’clock, withing an articulated module that acts as a protection against shocks and makes sure the screw-down crown can’t be operated once the watch is strapped around the wrist – something Derek explained in his article. Even though vintage-oriented, it retains a solid 300m water-resistance (minimum guaranteed, as ZRC claims tests at 1,500m) and a 3mm cambered sapphire crystal.
Moving down to the new elements of design, the undirectional bezel, with its unusual diving scale composed of luminous dots, is made of black ceramic with the lume plots rendered in vintage eggshells SLN. The case is made of stainless steel – said to be anti-magnetic – and includes a caseback with programmed deformation.
The main novelty in the context of this Smoke model is the dial, which comes with a so-called tropicalised colour scheme. A gradient effect is here combined to a light brown colour that changes towards almost black at the periphery. Classic printed markers and numerals are done in white, paired with patina-like luminous dots within the centre of the dial. Finally, oversized pencil hands – a signature of the brand – and a lollipop seconds hand indicate the time, again with a large amount of SLN. This vintage look is reinforced by an FKM tropic rubber strap in sand colour.
Inside the case is a classic movement, the Sellita SW200-1 (an alternative to the ETA 2824) that’s been adjusted to +/-7 seconds/day. The rest of the specs are known: 4Hz frequency, HMS display with stop-seconds and 41h power reserve.
Available as part of the permanent collection, this characterful storied dive watch retails for CHF 3,090. For more details about the ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage Smoke, consult zrc1904.com.
