ZRC Grands Fonds 38 Heritage - References, Prices and Owners' Reviews

Passionate and collector of diving watches, I cannot resist the attraction that the ZRC brand has on me (in my opinion among the most emblematic in this field). All the more so when the latter faithfully reissues a model that has marked its history: the GF38. A diver that fills me with joy with its contained dimensions, its vintage spirit, its robustness and its crazy charm. It has been a year that it accompanies me in my adventures and I never tire of it. I particularly like its magnum-type hands, its refined dial as well as its imposing crown at 6 o'clock (which reminds me of a goatee). I add a special mention to its sapphire crystal whose domed shape is to die for.

I had been looking at this beautiful family manufacturer for a while now, being a die-hard fan of diving watches. When the heritage model was released last year, the dimensions of the model were revised downwards (from 40.5/41.5 to 39mm) to get a little closer to the one released in the 60s that equipped the French Navy. At the beginning of 2023, this heritage model arrived with a two-tone bezel and a sunray blue dial that gives it a very fun side! A tool watch with beautiful finishes, this crown position at 6 o'clock, beyond the strong characteristic identity of the brand, brings real wearing comfort improved by the contained diameter of this model. My first Zrc, a treat for my chicken wrist (17/17.5).

Very happy owner of this Grands Fonds 38 Héritage "Series 3", reference GF38263, for 8 months now, I can't get enough of it. It's a bit of a UFO in the watchmaking landscape, by its look, but also its bracelet. This watch is pleasant to wear, small in size, extremely readable (the luminova is incredible), has the date and its water resistance is tested up to 1000m. This watch ticks a lot of boxes... In terms of precision, the first few days it was under +10s/day when worn, which is within the brand's tolerances (although a bit disappointing for the price). But happy surprise, it has broken in over time: after a few months, I am now around +1s/day. The case finish is very beautiful: the slight inner chamfer of the horns is polished, which contrasts with the very prominent edges of the case. The bracelet, which is in my opinion the big originality of the watch, may seem "cheap", but it faithfully reproduces the ZRC bracelets of the 60s. Being mainly made of folded sheet metal, its finesse provides very good comfort. The watch can thus be worn easily under "adjusted" sleeves. In conclusion, I'm crazy about it!