Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Double Signed with J.N. Shapiro

Introducing the Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Double Signed with J.N. Shapiro, featuring a hand-guilloché dial and a decorated movement. Price: CHF 68,900

Zenith presents the G.F.J. Calibre 135 Double Signed with J.N. Shapiro, a new interpretation of its G.F.J. collection created as part of the Double Signed programme, an initiative that brings independent watchmakers and craftsmen into collaboration with the Manufacture.

For this edition, Zenith has joined forces with American independent watchmaker J.N. Shapiro. 

The result is a limited edition of 25 watches in 18-carat rose gold, distinguished by an engine-turned dial and a specially decorated version of the hand-wound Calibre 135.

Founded by Joshua Shapiro in California in 2018, J.N. Shapiro began with the creation of guilloché dials and has since developed into a watchmaking company with its own movement, the Caliber 26, and the Resurgence collection.

The collaboration brings Shapiro's approach to traditional engine turning to the G.F.J. collection, introduced in 2025 and named after Zenith's founder, Georges Favre-Jacot. Conceived as a contemporary home for the historic Calibre 135, the collection combines the movement's heritage with a more contemporary watch design.

The dial is produced entirely in J.N. Shapiro's California atelier and features a silver base decorated with three different hand-executed guilloché patterns. 

The outer section carries a barleycorn motif, while the central area is finished with a basketweave pattern. 

The small seconds sub-dial at 6 o'clock features the brand's characteristic Infinity Weave. 

The three textures are framed by applied 18-carat rose gold elements, including the rings, hour markers and plates carrying the double signature Zenith | J.N. Shapiro, alongside the G.F.J. initials. The hour, minute and seconds hands are also made of solid gold.

The 39.15 mm rose gold case measures 10.5 mm in thickness, with a lug-to-lug distance of 45.75 mm. 

A sapphire crystal on the caseback reveals the hand-wound Calibre 135, whose bridges have been decorated with a technique known as damaskeening. 

Combining elements of Côtes de Genève and guilloché, this finish was traditionally used on American pocket watches and introduces a further reference to the country's watchmaking heritage. 

The movement retains the architecture of the modern Calibre 135, with a large variable-inertia balance wheel and a Breguet overcoil hairspring. 

It also features a double arrow-shaped regulator for fine adjustment, a stop-seconds mechanism and spring-mounted jewel settings protecting the balance staff.

Operating at 18,000 vibrations per hour (2.5 Hz), the movement provides a power reserve of 72 hours. Its rate is adjusted to within ±2 seconds per day and its precision is certified by the COSC. The watch is water-resistant to 5 ATM.

The watch is delivered with three leather straps: brown Cordovan, beige nubuck alligator and black calf leather. 

Each is fitted with an 18-carat rose gold pin buckle engraved with the G.F.J. initials. An 18-carat rose gold bracelet is also available on request.

The Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Double Signed with J.N. Shapiro, reference 18.1865-1-0135/01.C215, is limited to 25 pieces and is priced at CHF 68,900. zenith-watches.com