Cool Radiance: Zenith Reveals Three New DEFY Timepieces with Ice Blue Dials

In the world of technology, we often wonder, ‘Now, what’s next?’ If we look at the world of automobiles, the future is certainly ‘electric’ as every automobile manufacturer seems to be making its own brand of EVs. So, what about timepieces? What’s next? The answer: Colours. In keeping with this forecast, Zenith has now unveiled three new DEFY watches — one with a 41 mm (Ref. 03.9300.3620/15.I001) case and an ice blue dial, and two 36 mm timepieces with ice blue dials (Ref. 03.9400.670/15.I001 and Ref. 16.9400.670/15.I001, sporting a diamond bezel). Call them the three musketeers of the luxury watch world, if you will. 

When it comes to dials, blue seems to be the new black or white for that matter. Take, for example, the recent launches like Czapek Antarctique Passage de Drake Glacier Blue, Hublot Big Bang Integral Sky Blue Ceramic, and Montblanc 1858 Iced Sea Automatic Date — they all feature striking blue dials. Zenith’s new DEFY ice blue models are a modern collection steeped in the watchmaker’s rich history.

Each of the three 41 mm and 36 mm stainless steel timepieces comes with an octagonal case, a dodecagonal bezel, and a stainless steel crown at 3 o’clock, inspired by the earliest DEFY wristwatches from 1969. The dial of the new DEFY collection gets a metallic ice blue tone with an engraved pattern, consisting of four-pointed stars on a sunray-patterned metallic dial base. The collection’s date window at 3 o’clock and the 1/10th of a second subdial at 9 o’clock match the dial colour for the 41 mm model. Only the 36 mm variant gets a date window with or without 52 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds on the bezel.

The 41 mm model also comes with a black minute track on the outer periphery of the dial while the outer tips of the hour markers are suspended over the minute track. The large, faceted hour markers get ruthenium plating with a coating of Super-LumiNova. The central hour and minute hands have a black centre line, also with Super-LumiNova. The hand of the 1/10 subdial rotates in 10 seconds and each second is clearly divided into 10 segments. On the other hand, the 36 mm version gets a central second hand that touches the minute track with Zenith’s ‘Star’ logo; you can spot rhodium-plated hour markers with Super-LumiNova. 

Powering the 41 mm model is a high-frequency, automatic, self-winding Calibre El Primero 3620 with 60 hours of power reserve and 5Hz frequency. The 36 mm variant gets the Elite 670 movement with 50 hours of power reserve. Both automatic manufacture calibres feature star-shaped oscillating weights that can be viewed through the sapphire display casebacks.

The watches are finished on stainless steel bracelets with satin-brushed surfaces and polished edges with the option of an ice blue rubber strap with a starry sky pattern and a stainless steel folding clasp. The watches come with Zenith’s own quick release system for easy interchangeability of straps, consisting of secure buttons on the caseback. The 41 mm model is exclusive to Zenith’s boutiques and the 36 mm version can be purchased online or from boutiques. 

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