Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone Watch Review
Following last year’s release of the inaugural G.F.J., a watch that received critical acclaim and went on to enjoy GPHG success, the historic Manufacture has unveiled two additional references: the Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone and the G.F.J. Calibre 135 Tantalum. Recently launched at Watches & Wonders, Angus Davies indulged in a spot of stargazing on the Swiss marque’s stand.
Image – Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone (left) & tantalum (right)
Zenith G.F.J. – winner of the Chronometry Prize 2025 (GPHG)
Talent scouts continuously seek to find the next football sensation, budding silverscreen starlet or future pop diva. These skilled professionals have the capacity to spot a shining talent amidst a sea of mediocrity. Founded in 1865 in Le Locle, Zenith is certainly no precocious talent. Indeed, its horological oeuvre is highly impressive and the product of years of amassed know-how. Nevertheless, when I saw the inaugural G.F.J. in 2025 for the first time, my inner talent scout came to the fore. Cradling the watch in my hands while attending Watches & Wonders 2025, I could readily see its mechanical purity, its seemly celebration of lines and curves, its respect for materials and its sensitivity to light and shade. Shortly after the annual exhibition, staged on the outskirts of Geneva, I published an in-depth feature about the watch and openly declared that it was in my ‘Top 5’ for 2025.
In November 2025, the brilliance of the model was recognised by the academy and jury of the GPHG, with Benoît de Clerck (CEO of Zenith) walking on stage to rapturous applause, collecting the ‘Chronometry Prize 2025’.
This year, at Watches & Wonders 2026, the brand from Le Locle released two new expressions of the G.F.J. Calibre 135 – one housed in 18-carat yellow gold and the other in tantalum. Before the fair, I received pre-launch images. I was immediately drawn to the Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Tantalum, but to be honest, I was unsure whether the yellow gold reference would be to my liking. However, in reality, once affixed to my wrist, it was this latter model that ensnared my heart. Allow me to elaborate, but first of all, let me begin by discussing the G.F.J. Calibre 135 Tantalum.
A tantalum watch
Tantalum is a rare chemical element, a silver-grey metal (atomic number 73 – Group 5 of the periodic table). It is dense, corrosion-resistant and has a high melting point (2,996 °C). Moreover, tantalum is hard, making it resistant to scratching and is hypoallergenic. While it all sounds very agreeable on paper, unfortunately it presents the casemaker with several challenges.
When milling cases using a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine, the material generates much heat and can even catch fire, hence milling speeds are often reduced, extending production times, thereby heightening costs. The hardness of the material wears out CNC tools more readily, necessitating downtime, again heightening costs. Furthermore, when it is machined, specialist producers talk about it being ‘gummy’ or clay-like, clogging cutting tools, necessitating even more downtime. Lastly, finishing a tantalum case is more protracted and requires much expertise. Although a challenging material to work with, tantalum is a highly desirable metal with a unique blue-grey lustre beloved by watch aficionados.
Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 in tantalum
The case measures 39.15 mm in diameter and has a thickness of 10.5 mm. Zenith has endowed the housing with a comely blend of polished and brushed surfaces. The dial proves equally impressive with a central disc of glossy black onyx setting the scene. The hour and minute hands are svelte, formed of white gold, conversing with the wearer succinctly. A small seconds indication resides at 6 o’clock, with a lithe hand rotating above a grey mother-of-pearl disc.
Image – Zenith Manufacture, Le Locle
Consistent with last year’s G.F.J, the hour track is adorned with a brick-themed guilloché motif, a nod to the brand’s historic Manufacture in Le Locle which has a white facade punctuated with red bricks. In this instance, Zenith has gone further by denoting each hour with a trapeze-cut diamond. However, Zenith devotees need not fret, the brand has exercised judicious restraint, sidestepping Liberace excess in favour of genteel and tasteful charm.
Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone – first impressions
Prior to Watches & Wonders, brands send a handful of images and press releases ‘under embargo’. As mentioned earlier, when I saw the Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone for the first time, I dismissed it, placing it in the ‘not my thing’ folder on my Mac. However, sometimes photographs fail to convey the true wrist experience and having now worn the watch, I can declare that this is my favourite G.F.J. to date.
Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone – dial
Bloodstone is a dark green jasper incorporating smatterings of red iron oxide. Often thought to symbolise vitality, courage and strength, it is often used in meditation and crystal healing. Whether you subscribe to said representations and uses or not, there is no escaping the bewitching appearance of the stone when viewed at close quarters.
Appraising the centre of the dial with a loupe reveals it is executed in bloodstone. Its surface appears mottled, enriched with patches of verdant shades and dappled with red hues. No two stone dials are the same, making each watch unique. Upholding G.F.J. convention, the small seconds dial is presented on a mother-of-pearl disc at 6 o’clock, executed in green.
The hour and minute hands, along with the indexes, are formed of 18-carat yellow gold, matching the case, while the hour track is endowed with the brand’s signature brick guilloché.
There is a wonderful warmth to the dial of the Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone. The green dial and 18-carat yellow gold case bestow a vintage vibe that I personally find endearing.
Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone – case
Sharing the same dimensions as its G.F.J. siblings, the Jasper Bloodstone leaves the monochromatic world of platinum and tantalum and steps into the light, embracing a technicolour universe. This yellowy noble metal has enjoyed a renaissance in recent times and Zenith has masterfully employed the precious material for this timepiece. When combined with the dial’s verdant landscape, the housing confers 51 shades of yellow seduction that few consenting adults will be able to resist.
Polished and brushed surfaces sit in concert. The bezel unites different angles, charming light, while the lugs are stepped, augmenting eye appeal. The crown is partially recessed within the caseband, neat and unassuming, while the caseback is glazed, exposing the hand-wound Calibre 135.
Zenith supplies the Jasper Bloodstone with three straps, namely a beige nubuck leather strap, a green alligator leather strap and a black calfskin leather strap. A yellow gold pin buckle secures the watch to the wrist. In addition, Zenith offers an 18-carat yellow gold bracelet with a double folding clasp for a supplement.
Zenith Calibre 135
Back in 2025, when I reviewed the platinum G.F.J. Calibre 135 (Reference: 40.1865.0135/51.C200), I talked at length about the movement’s many attributes, including its enhanced power reserve of 72 hours (up from 40 hours), the increased jewel count and the addition of a stop-second mechanism. All these features have been retained for the Tantalum and Jasper Bloodstone. Likewise, the 2.5 Hz cadence, Breguet overcoil and chronometer certification (COSC) also make a welcome return.
However, not everything is the same. Zenith has chosen to imbue the Jasper Bloodstone and tantalum models with an alternative movement execution. For instance, the mainplate is now adorned with perlage, while the bridges are enriched with the traditional Côte de Genève motif. This latter decoration is presented in a wider-than-usual wave pattern, the bridges also feature refined hand-chamfering and are executed in a contemporary dark ruthenium finish accented by yellow gold-coloured engravings. Even the crown wheel and ratchet wheel have been decorated with sunray-brushing. Everything looks eminently refined.
Closing remarks
Last year, at Geneva Watch Days, I chatted to Romain Marietta, Zenith’s Chief Products Officer, and discussed the G.F.J. at length. It was clear that the inaugural version of the watch (platinum) would not be the Calibre 135’s swan song. Indeed, Marietta stated at the time, “We have two watches in the pipeline for 2026 and we have already planned a further model for 2027.” Like many watch obsessives, I look forward to discovering the next chapter of the G.F.J. story, a page-turner and must-read for any self-respecting horophile. The brand’s star logo has never shone so brightly.
Further reading
https://www.zenith-watches.com/
Technical specifications
- Model: Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135
- Reference: 98.1865.0135/21.C212
- Case: tantalum, diameter 39.15 mm, height 10.5 mm, water resistance 5 ATM (50 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
- Movement: Calibre 135, hand-wound movement, frequency 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz), 22 jewels, power reserve 72 hours
- Strap: watch supplied with 3 straps: blue nubuck alligator leather with titanium pin buckle, black alligator leather and grey calfskin leather.
- Price: £72,000 (RRP as of 20.4.2026)
- Limited Edition: 20 pieces
- Model: Zenith G.F.J. Calibre 135 Jasper Bloodstone
- Reference: 30.1865.0135/56.C216
- Case: 18-carat yellow gold, diameter 39.15 mm, height 10.5 mm, water resistance 5 ATM (50 metres), sapphire crystal to front, exhibition case back.
- Functions: hours, minutes, small seconds
- Movement: Calibre 135, hand-wound movement, frequency 18,000 vph (2.5 Hz), 22 jewels, power reserve 72 hours
- Strap: watch supplied with 3 straps: beige nubuck alligator leather with yellow gold pin buckle, green alligator leather and black calfskin leather.
- Price: £45,800 (RRP as of 20.4.2026)
- Limited Edition: 161 pieces
