The Low-Down
With the Zenith DEFY 21 collection, to be launched on the all-digital Watches & Wonders platform, Zenith has cleverly avoided the obvious by incorporating striking colors everywhere but the dial.
The eye-catching color and magnificence of 44 baguette-cut precious stones surrounding the bezel with no less than 288 brilliant-cute white diamonds on the lugs, most of the color to be found is achieved through innovative pigmentation processes on the El Primero 21 chronograph movement.
Spectrum is a more in-depth play on light and color as advanced by last years’ Zenith DEFY 21 Ultraviolet. Last year, in a world first, Zenith created an automatic chronograph movement in the opulent tones of violet.
Aptly named, for 2021, the Zenith DEFY 21 Spectrum consists of not 1 but 5 watches each exploring not only the high frequencies of a 1/100th movement, but the different frequencies of visible light which make up part of the spectrum of light and color as originally discovered by Sir Isaac Newton in 1671.
There are green tsavorites for the green edition. Orange sapphires for the orange edition. Blue sapphires for the blue edition. Amethyst garnets for the purple edition, and black spinels for the black edition.
Limited to just 10 pieces per color at Zenith boutiques around the world, the 44mm watch runs on the revolutionary 1/100th of a second El Primero 21 (El Primero 9004) chronograph calibre beating at an incredible frequency of 50Hz – 36,000 beats per hour.
There is also a second dedicated escapement for the chronograph mechanism which vibrates ten times as fast – a frequency of fully 360,000 bph. With a power reserve of 50 hours the movement features Hours, Minutes, and Small Seconds. Each watch comes on an appropriately hued fabric-effect strap with a supple black rubber lining complete with a titanium butterfly clasp.
IMHO
The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 was introduced at BaselWorld in 2017. Building upon the brand’s rich chronograph tradition, it also marked the return of the much vaunted DEFY line for Zenith.
Contrasting with the aesthetics of the vibrant color and glittering jewels, this is every millimetre a serious time teller. The watch is made from stainless steel with its skeleton dial revealing full chronometer certified chronograph sub-dials, it is an instantly legible, utterly reliable and contemporary skeleton chronograph designed as a showpiece.
Tech Specs
Movement: El Primero 9004, frequency 36000 bph, 50 hours power reserve
Case: 44mm, stainless steel, bezel with diamond baguettes
Dial: Five different colors – green, orange, blue, purple, black
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Small Seconds, 1/100th of a second chronograph
Strap: Rubber backed fabric-effect with butterfly clasp
Price: USD 35,900
