Picture Perfect: Introducing the Leica ZM 11 Watch
Eyebrows were raised when Leica, the famed creator of cameras and lenses, threw its hat into the watchmaking ring in 2022. Third parties had licensed the name and released
a handful of watches as far back as the 1980s, but this move was definitive. A statement of intent that brought the design and assembly in-house.
Upon reflection, the move wasn’t as outlandish as it appeared. Cameras are instruments of precision, just as watches are. And precision engineering is an area in which this German company boasts considerable expertise. One hundred and fifty-five years of it, to be, well, precise.
The fruits of this foray were the ZM 1 and ZM 2, a pair of mechanical time-and-date models replete with nods to Leica’s day job, from the lens-like domed glass to the brand’s signature red dot on the patented push-crown.
After a few years of tinkering in the darkroom, the brand has developed a new offering that’s guaranteed to expand the scope and appeal of Leica watches. The ZM 11 marks a stylistic departure from its predecessors by embracing a more casual, sporty look and feel, but the camera-adjacent design features remain. Nowhere is this more apparent than the dial of the Launch Edition (limited to 250 pieces), which uses the clever interplay of light and shadow, combined with fine mechanical craftsmanship, to create the impression of a black to red colour gradient.
Also available in Coffee Black and Midnight Blue, the 41mm watch houses a Swiss automatic movement — engineered in partnership with Chronode and visible through the display case back — with an exacting degree of accuracy and an impressive 60-hour power reserve.
The Easy Change system is another area that takes its cues from the camera playbook. Based on Leica’s lens-release system, it lets you transition between a range of straps — rubber, fabric, titanium or stainless steel — to suit your setting and mood, all at the click of a button. MB
From £5,630, leica-camera.com/watches
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