Swiss watchmaker Zenith is introducing a violet-coloured chronograph watch, the Zenith Defy 21 Ultraviolet. Even its movement has ultra-violet finishings – a watchmaking world first. Furthermore, the movement features a second independent escapement for the chronograph which beats at the highest frequency currently seen in chronographs.
Firstly, the watch showcases a faceted micro-blasted titanium case, making it more light and wearable. Meanwhile, the watch’s hour markers and hands are rhodium-plated, faceted, and use Super-LumiNova SLN C1 coating, making them white in colour.
Secondly, the unusual-coloured Zenith Defy 21 Ultraviolet features an open dial, revealing the movement and angular, purple-treated bridges. The dial incorporates three closed grey subdials: small seconds at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, and a 60-second counter at 6 o’clock. Furthermore, the dial features a central chronograph hand, plus a linear chronograph power reserve indication at 12 o’clock.
Thirdly, the movement powering the Defy 21 Ultraviolet is the self-winding El Primero 9004 automatic. It is the first violet-coloured movement ever to power a watch, ranging from ‘warm violent’ to ‘cool purple’ tones. It has a 50-hour power reserve and beats at 5 Hz. Essentially, the higher the frequency of a movement, the smaller the fractions of a second it can measure. Consequently, the Defy 21 features a second independent escapement, that beats at 360.000 vph (50 Hz) and measures 1/100th of a second. This makes the watch’s white-tipped central 1/100th of a second chronograph hand complete a rotation within one second.
Finally, the Zenith Defy 21 Ultraviolet presents itself on black rubber strap, which features a violet insert to mimic the look of woven textile. It is water-resistant to 100 m and costs 13,100 euros.
Features
| BRAND: | Zenith |
| MODEL: | Defy 21 Ultraviolet |
| REFERENCE: | 97.9001.9004/80.R922 |
| CASE MATERIAL: | Micro-blasted titanium |
| DIMENSIONS: | Diameter: 44.0 mm Height: 14.50 mm |
| WATER RESISTANCE: | 10 bar (~ 100 m) |
| DIAL: | Open dial, closed grey subdials |
| STRAP/BRACELET: | Black rubber strap, violet insert mimics the look of woven textile |
| MOVEMENT: | El Primero 9004 |
| MOVEMENT TYPE: | Automatic |
| POWER RESERVE: | 50 hours |
| FREQUENCY: | 36,000 vph / 5 Hz |
| FUNCTIONS: | Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph |
| PRICE: | EUR 13,100 |