GRANDS FONDS WATCHES

GRANDS FONDS WATCHES


MN64™

HERITAGE™

A true embodiment of the Grands Fonds® spirit, ZRC® watches are rooted in a tradition of industrial expertise developed since the 1920s in the manufacture of watertight cases. Created in 1959 following a tender from the French Navy, the ZRC® watch gave rise to the Grands Fonds S1, the first response to the operational requirements of military divers. It later evolved into the S2, featuring a crown positioned at 6 o’clock, tested from 1964 to 1966 by the G.E.R.S. ZRC served as an official supplier to the French Navy from 1966 to 1994. Since then, ZRC has continued to uphold this technical mastery in the most demanding environments, including for special forces. This legitimacy is reinforced by close partnerships with elite units such as GSPM, GIGN, BRI, GIH, mine clearance divers, and FOST, all of whom trust ZRC® to support their missions. Whether styled as sport-chic or pure dive watches, these boldly designed timepieces bring a relaxed elegance to both men’s and women’s wrists.

As robust as the models originally designed for the French Navy, their monobloc cases in 316L steel or grade 5 titanium showcase ZRC’s unique expertise in designing perfectly watertight structures. They now incorporate exclusive high-tech processes such as the worldwide patented ECS®  system, the Crown Protection System™, and a programmed deformation caseback, the result of advanced research into material reaction under extreme pressure. Combined with meticulous attention at every stage of production, these technical choices give ZRC® watches one of the highest levels of resistance and reliability on the market. Certified from 300 meters to 3,000 meters, they are tested under extreme conditions down to -5,000 meters for the titanium MN64 models.

Beyond the iconic 6 o’clock crown, the dials and bezels preserve ZRC’s distinctive design codes, including the famous “lollipop” seconds hand and, depending on the version, Magnum or slim hands, a date display, and raised indexes on the dial. The use of high-intensity encapsulated Super-LumiNova X1 ensures optimal legibility in all conditions.

Faithful to the ZRC® philosophy—“designed by divers for divers”—ZRC®watches are powered by automatic Sellita SW200 or SW300 movements in their elaborated versions, renowned for their reliability, precision, and robustness, making ZRC® a true tool watch capable of combining performance, safety, elegance, and simplicity.