Origins and History
The French Navy asked ZRC to “find a solution” to protect the crown without impeding wrist movement, and above all, to ensure it could not open under water. The crown at 3 o’clock posed a problem as it was too vulnerable during underwater manipulations.
The ZRC team set to work and developed the famous crown at 6 o’clock, connected to the case using an exclusive system consisting of a canon cut from a single block, making the Grands Fonds 300 the first and only watch to be equipped with a 100% monobloc case. Furthermore, the case is machined in a particular type of steel reinforced with molybdenum that is completely antimagnetic (an absolute necessity for the Mine Clearance Divers’ Group).
Technical Prowess
From the old patents, certificates and old original technical drawings, we worked on 3-D renderings and new solutions to this unique watch.
At the end of 2014 the production is launched at Tavanne in Switzerland with delivery date for May 2015. The reserved idea is the re-issue of the 1964 French Navy model, produced at 300 units only and delivered with specific winder. For the re-issue, ZRC did things the big way ! it has to keep the promises of its glorious ancestor…innovation, breathtaking design & efficiency !
At ZRC, the all R&D office is on stage; supervised by Georges Brunet, Grand Grand son of Joseph Rochet & inventor of the ECS™ thanks to numerous discussions with Mr. Pastre (former French Navy in house Official watchmaker) it turned out that like all other dive watches the original GF300 suffered from the same bezel problem which eventually blocked because of the salty water…Indeed after too many dives, the salt managed to “crystallize” in spaces between the glass, the case & the bezel itself, damaging its rotation system.
A solution has to be found the new GF300 !
The ECS™ (Easy Clean System) is a technical solution to an issue encountered by the Mine Clearance divers’ Group of the French Navy during their many dives: Salt crystallizing in the gaps between the Bezel and the Case, thus impeding its free rotation. For the 2015 re-issue of the Grands Fonds, ZRC has developed & patented (N°1462496) a functional solution: the ECS™ was born ! A unique system for cleaning the inside of the Bezel by circulating fresh water that dilutes and evacuates the sea salt, the ECS™ is the Ultimate Tribute to the Original Grands Fonds and perfectly in tune with the Brand’s DNA.
The new GF300 is a real « Tribute to » its prestigious predecessor and it is quite naturally that ZRC is going to find a special place with the Navy. Indeed in 2015 ZRC is the Official Watch Brand for the 60th anniversary of the 3rd Mine Clearance Group of the Mediterranean. The occasion for the GF300 to return at the Arsenal in Toulon (French Navy South France base) to join within the intervention group & Mine Clearance experts…
At this very moment, the re-issue of the 1964 GF300 was not supposed to exceed the stage of 300 units which have been decided to make for the 111th anniversary of the company (1904-2015)…But the craze of the market, the constant & strong demand of the watch retailers to obtain concession of the brand one decided Georges & Charles BRUNET to reattempt the adventure of the watch…
The GF300 is 100% Swiss Made under the new “Swiness” Regulation, using the reliable ETA 2824-2 Elaborated version movement with a +/-7sec/day precision…
L’école de plongée, la 3ème groupe des plongeurs démineurs de la méditerranée, le commando Hubert, La Calypso du Cdt. Cousteau… The dive school, the Mediterranean 3rd Mine Clearance Group, the Hubert commando squad, Calypso of Cdt. Cousteau…
In 1972 Patrick BRUNET Grand Son of Joseph Rochet takes over the direction of the company and decides to stop the watch adventure because in lack of profitability…it is the beginning of a 35 years sleep for the GF300…
