Zenith - Defy Extreme

Zenith novelties 2021. Presented at Watches and Wonders, the new Defy Extreme comes in three versions with prices starting from CHF 17900

A sort of supercharged Defy, the new Defy Extreme from Zenith comes with a larger 45 mm x 15.40 mm case with a water-resistance of 200 metres / 660 feet, sharper lines with more pronounced edges, protections for the pushers, a screw-down crown and other details that emphasise the impression of overall robustness.

An element that certainly stands out is the twelve-sided ring placed under the bezel that extends down to the twelve-sided case back.

Three versions have been presented: in microblasted titanium with black counters and black coloured main plate,  in brushed, polished and microblasted titanium with three different-coloured counters and blue coloured main plate, and, finally, in microblasted titanium and polished rose gold with three black-coloured counters and gold coloured main plate.

Each Defy Extreme comes with three different straps with quick strap-change mechanisms: a mircroblasted or polished and satin-brushed titanium bracelet, a rubber strap with a folding buckle matching the case and, a first for Zenith and the Defy line, a Velcro strap. 

The dial of the Defy Extreme was designed to provide a view of the El Primero 9004 automatic calibre, a 1/100th of a second chronograph movement, with two escapements beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour for the timekeeping part and 360,000 vibrations per hour for the chronograph. Its autonomy is 50 hours.

The dial is made of a transparent sapphire crystal with applied oversized and slightly overlapping chronograph counters. To enhance readability in poor light conditions, the hands as well as the applied hour markers are filled with Super-LumiNova. The main plate of the movement is coloured galvanically to match the exterior.

The Defy Extreme retails at CHF 17,900 in microblasted titanium with black counters (ref. 97.9100.9004/02.I001) or in brushed, polished and microblasted titanium with three different-coloured counters (ref. 95.9100.9004/01.I001) while the version in microblasted titanium and polished rose gold with three black-coloured counters (ref. 87.9100.9004/03.I001) has a price of CHF 21,900. zenith-watches.com