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!

The extreme toolwatch

The ZRC brand was created in 1904 by Edmond Zuccolo and Joseph Rochet in Geneva, Switzerland. The brand ZRC was first specialized in the manufacture of chains for pocket watches and then of expandable metal bracelets. In 1917, she won the Geneva Grand Prix for industrial innovation for the creation of metal bracelets.
It was only then that ZRC developed its activity by producing cases in the 1920s before specializing in the design of diving watches, notably with the ZRC Grands Fonds 300 in 1960. Designed by divers for divers, the model crown was moved to 6 o'clock. The final version of this model was used by the Italian Navy, the French Navy from 1964 to 1982 and approved by NATO.
To differentiate itself from these competitors and make their watches safer, the brand has integrated innovation into these watches. They first created an extensible bracelet and a system making it impossible to immerse the watch if the crown is not completely screwed in. In the brand's range, there are several models such as the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_300"> ZRC Grands Fonds 300</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_3000_titanium"> ZRC Grands Fonds 3000 Titanium</a>, the <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/north_adventure">ZRC North Adventure</a>, the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_by_stef"> ZRC Grands Fonds By Stef</a> and the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_heritage"> ZRC Grands Fonds Heritage</a>. In 2016-17, the brand also produced a series of 50 ZRC-FOST watches dedicated to active submariners of the French Navy.
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a ZRC watch cost?</h2>
The prices of ZRC watches sold on the brand's website are changing between CHF 2,790 And CHF 4,490 depending on the models and finishes. Count CHF 2,990 for one<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_spirit_1964"> ZRC Grand Fonds Spirit 1964</a> And CHF 3,190 for one <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/zrc/grands_fonds_38_heritage">ZRC Grands Fonds 38 Heritage</a>.
The brand ZRC is now owned by Georges Brunet and produces several thousand watches per year, all models combined. The brand is part of the ranking of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_swiss_watch_brands">Ranking of the most popular Swiss watch brands</a>. To choose a ZRC that best suits you, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.
(Updated Octobre 2024)

Having had the ZRC GF reissue first version launched in 2015 (but also the original vintage models), this reissue 38 erases the small defects (in my eyes of course) that its elder of June 2015 could have, namely the excessive weight in its steel version (ideal however on rubber), the diameter slightly too large for my taste. It goes even further by taking up the codes of the vintage model with a deliciously vintage dial literature (dialiciously!), a domed sapphire perfectly taking up the appearance of plexi, an ideal diameter of 39 mm (and not 38 as its name suggests), a lighter bracelet with very sixties charm sounds, a more notched bezel (like the original) in ceramic and a whole bunch of very appreciable little details. Result: a robust tool with a very vintage look with perfect proportions for me!

The best of both worlds between modern and vintage

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).

A fun and pleasant watch to wear!

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.

ZRC GF38

Cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2017 par le designer Nicolas Ducoudert, Beaubleu apporte une dimension nouvelle &agrave; l&rsquo;horlogerie en cr&eacute;ant des montres &agrave; la fois esth&eacute;tiques, &eacute;tonnantes et profond&eacute;ment symboliques. Les aiguilles rondes, signature de la Maison, sont le reflet d&rsquo;une singularit&eacute; et d&rsquo;une simplicit&eacute; sophistiqu&eacute;e. Chaque mod&egrave;le arbore un design d&eacute;licieusement contemporain, o&ugrave; chaque d&eacute;tail, chaque surface, interagissent avec la lumi&egrave;re.
Cassant les codes de l'horlogerie traditionnelle en apportant une vision nouvelle du temps, les montres Beaubleu sortent des sentiers battus en arborant des aiguilles rondes et &eacute;vid&eacute;es, inspir&eacute;es des travaux de Galil&eacute;e dans sa compr&eacute;hension du syst&egrave;me solaire. Ces aiguilles affichent de mani&egrave;re po&eacute;tique les heures, qui ne pointent pas un index ni une graduation, mais qui indiquent une position, un instant depuis le centre du cadran.
<h2>Quels sont les principaux mod&egrave;les de la marque Beaubleu ?</h2>
Beaubleu vient d&rsquo;annoncer le 5 juin 2024, le lancement d&rsquo;une nouvelle collection en s&eacute;rie limit&eacute;e nomm&eacute;e <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/seconde_francaise">Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise</a>. Une belle innovation esth&eacute;tique et po&eacute;tique comme en a le secret la marque., avec une aiguille volante des secondes et un calibre fran&ccedil;ais de France &Eacute;bauches. La Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise fait partie des nomin&eacute;s au Grand Prix d''Horlogerie de Gen&egrave;ve 2024.&nbsp;
La collection <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/ecce">Beaubleu Ecce</a> reste la collection permanente de la marque lanc&eacute;e en octobre 2023. Malgr&eacute; sa jeune histoire, Beaubleu a d&eacute;j&agrave; commercialis&eacute; 3 collections en s&eacute;ries limit&eacute;es :
<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/b01">Beaubleu B01</a> <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/union">Beaubleu Union</a> <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/vitruve_date">Beaubleu Vitruve Date</a> et <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/vitruve_gmt">Beaubleu Vitruve GMT</a>
<h2>Quel est le prix d'une montre Beaubleu ?</h2>
Le prix des montres Beaubleu &eacute;voluent et diff&egrave;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent entre 800 &euro; et 1,600 &euro; selon les r&eacute;f&eacute;rences. A titre d'exemple, une <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/ecce/vesperal">Beaubleu Ecce Vesperal</a> est propos&eacute;e &agrave; 890 &euro; sur le bracelet cuir et la nouvelle collection <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/seconde_francaise">Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise</a> est vendue &agrave; partir de 1,490 &euro; sur bracelet cuir &eacute;galement. <a href="bit.ly/4abJPrn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tous les prix Beaubleu sur le site de la marque</a>.
La marque Beaubleu est ind&eacute;pendante et vend plusieurs milliers de montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir le mod&egrave;le Beaubleu qui vous correspond le mieux, les <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/seconde_francaise/20.24_gris_perle/review/66607be37f15bc103d620fe3">avis clients Dialicious sur Beaubleu</a> sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer les diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients de la marque.
Consultez le<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises"> Classement des meilleures marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises</a> dont Beaubleu fait partie.
(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2024)
&nbsp;

Created in 2017 by designer Nicolas Ducoudert, Beaubleu brings a new dimension to watchmaking by creating watches that are aesthetic, astonishing and deeply symbolic. The round hands, signature of the House, reflect singularity and sophisticated simplicity. Each model features a deliciously contemporary design, where every detail, every surface, interacts with light.
Breaking the codes of traditional watchmaking by providing a new vision of time, Beaubleu watches go off the beaten track by featuring round, hollowed-out hands, inspired by the work of Galileo in his understanding of the solar system. These hands poetically display the hours, which do not point to an index or a graduation, but which indicate a position, an instant from the center of the dial.
<h2 dir="ltr">What are the main models of the Beaubleu brand?</h2>
Beaubleu has just announced on June 5, 2024, the launch of a new limited series collection called<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/seconde_francaise"> Beaubleu Seconde Francaise</a>. A beautiful aesthetic and poetic innovation as the brand has the secret, with a flying seconds hand and a French caliber from France &Eacute;bauches. The Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise is one of the nominees for the 2024 GPHG (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Gen&egrave;ve).&nbsp;
The collection<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/ecce"> Beaubleu Ecce</a> remains the permanent collection of the brand launched in October 2023. Despite its young history, Beaubleu has already marketed 3 collections in limited series:
<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/b01">Beaubleu B01 </a><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/union">Beaubleu Union </a><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/vitruve_date">Beaubleu Vitruvius Date</a> And<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/vitruve_gmt"> Beaubleu Vitruve GMT</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Beaubleu watch cost?</h2>
The prices of Beaubleu watches change and differ depending on the model. Most cost between &euro; 800 and &euro; 1,600 according to the references. As an example, a<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/ecce/vesperal"> Beaubleu Ecce Vesperal</a> is offered at &euro; 890 on the leather strap and the new collection<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/seconde_francaise"> Beaubleu Seconde Francaise</a> is sold from &euro; 1,490 on a leather strap as well. All Beaubleu prices on the brand's website.
The Beaubleu brand is independent and sells several thousand watches per year, all models combined. To choose the Beaubleu model that best suits you, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/seconde_francaise/20.24_gris_perle/review/66607be37f15bc103d620fe3">Dialicious owners' reviews on Beaubleu</a> are a valuable resource for evaluating the different models through the real experience of the brand's customers.
Check out the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands"> Ranking of the best French watch brands</a>, including Beaubleu.
(Updated November 2024)

ZRC Grands Fonds 38 Heritage Owner Review : Efficient, original and retro

The extreme toolwatch

Pros & Cons for this watch

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