Zenith Showcases Newest Defy with Double Tourbillons

Having made its debut in 1969, Zenith’s El Primero automatic chronograph movement is regarded as one of the best and most accurate movements with a high frequency of 5Hz against a normal 4Hz regulation speed. The Defy collection is renowned for its strong and robust looks which when paired with the El Primero 1/100th of a second movement is a marriage made in heaven. Zenith has unveiled the Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon in two variants of a black carbon and 18 ct rose gold model (Ref. 12.9100.9020/78.I200) and a brushed titanium model (Ref.95.9100.9020/78.I001 ).

When Zenith unveiled the Defy Extreme timepiece in 2021, the watch was a Defy on steroids. That model was a bold 45 mm with a 12-sided plinth beneath the bezel. What made this timepiece more special was its high frequency El Primero movement, key to Zenith DNA. The movement was the Defy El Primero 21, a 1/100th of a second chronograph, a 5Hz regulator, and a 50Hz one for the chronograph.

The 45-mm carbon fibre with sandblasted matte, 18 ct rose gold watch has  a rose gold 12-sided bezel with carbon fibre pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock to start and restart the chronograph function. Rather than using a trifecta face for the chronograph, the timepiece has a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, a 60-second counter at 6 o'clock.The highlight here is the skeleton dial watch features two independent tourbillons at 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock in star-shaped cages and a chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o'clock. The crown at 3 o’clock is covered in black rubber.

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Taking the movement to a whole new level, the tourbillon completes a rotation in 60 seconds, while the chronograph’s tourbillon takes five seconds to complete one. This is one of the fastest tourbillons ever made as well as the only 1/100th of a second chronograph beating at the phenomenal rate of 50 Hz. This model’s hour markers, hour, minute and central chronograph hands are made of gold plating, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1. This model sits on a black rubber strap with a microblasted titanium triple folding clasp, with an option of a velcro strap in carbon and cordura effects.

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The 45-mm brushed titanium model, which is the next model, has a monochrome look wherein the bracelet, the case and the two chronograph pushers at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock are made of brushed titanium. The skeleton dial gets the exact same layout as that of its carbon fibre counterpart. Turning both watches reveals the special star-shaped oscillating weight with satin finishings.

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This 1/100th of a second Double Tourbillon Chronograph collection is powered by the El Primero 9020 movement with a minimum of 50 hours power reserve for the watch and 50 minutes for the chronograph. Both watches get 200 metres of water resistance.

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