The prowess of Zenith's chronometry remains unmatched – every now and then we witness the brand’s commitment to precision, quality and vigor through its technically remarkable watches. This time, the Le Locle-based watchmaker is pushing the limits with its most advanced and complicated chronograph movement to date – the El Primero 9020 – that powers the new Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon timepieces. This engineering feat takes pride in its two independent tourbillon mechanisms - completing rotations in 60 seconds for the timekeeping tourbillon and five seconds for the chronograph's tourbillon.
The performance of these timepieces is dependent on the incredibly robust El Primero 9020 movement, which is one of the fastest tourbillons ever made, as well as the only 1/100th of a second chronograph that beats at a remarkable rate of 3,60,000 vibrations per hour (VpH). This movement is indeed built on over five decades of breakthroughs and refinement of the high-frequency automatic chronograph that began with the El Primero.
This iteration of El Primero, which features an exclusive dynamic signature of one rotation per second for the chrono hand, delivers a power reserve of around 50 hours for the watch and 50 minutes for the chronograph. Apart from its endurance and ruggedness, the automatic engine also offers aesthetically pleasing decoration for a contrasting look. The El Primero 9020's open and satin-brushed bridges impress the wearer with their coated layer of black PVD, while the edges of those bridges are highlighted in rose gold, coming together to offer geometric forms.
Two New Extremes
The Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon has two executions that come packed in an angular and robust 45mm case. The Ref. 95.9100.9020/78.I001 sits light and easy on the wrist with its case that has been crafted entirely in titanium with satin-brushed, polished and matte surfaces, including the bracelet. The Ref. 12.9100.9020/78.I200 is as ambitious as its titanium sibling but exudes a look that is both sturdy and elegant, courtesy its carbon fiber case with sandblasted matte rose gold 12-sided bezel presented on a black textured rubber strap.
The open watch face with applied chronograph counters and tinted transparent sapphire elements add to the charm of the new Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon and gives the wearer an unimpeded view of the trailblazing movement and its two tourbillon mechanisms with star-shaped cages.
The two serially produced references have hours and minutes in the center, a central chronograph hand that makes one turn each second, a 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, a 60-second counter at 6 o'clock and the chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o'clock. The hour markers and hands of the two references are gold-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova®.
The titanium Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon comes paired with a titanium bracelet with a titanium folding clasp and also includes a rubber strap with a folding buckle, along with another velcro strap. The carbon fiber model is flanked by a black rubber strap with a micro-blasted titanium triple folding clasp and includes two other velcro straps – carbon effect and cordura effect. Both iterations offer a water resistance of up to 200 meters.
Specifications
Zenith Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon
References: 12.9100.9020/78.I200 and 95.9100.9020/78.I001
Features: 1/100th of a second double tourbillon, one tourbillon escapement for the watch (36,000 VpH - 5 Hz - cage makes a turn in 60 seconds), one tourbillon escapement for the chronograph (3,60,000 VpH - 50 Hz - cage makes a turn in five seconds) and exclusive dynamic signature of one rotation per second for the chrono hand
Case: 45mm
Dial: Openworked; Gold-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova® SLN C1
Movement: El Primero 9020; Special oscillating weight with satin finishings
Power-reserve: 50 hours for the watch and 50 minutes for the chronograph (approx.)
Functions: Hours and minutes in the center, double tourbillon, central chronograph hand that makes one turn each second, 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock, a 60-second counter at 6 o'clock and chronograph power-reserve indicator at 12 o'clock
Material: Black carbon and 18k rose gold for Ref. 12.9100.9020/78.I200 and brushed titanium for Ref. 95.9100.9020/78.I001
Water resistance: Up to 200 meters
Strap and buckle: Black rubber with micro-blasted titanium triple folding clasp for Ref. 12.9100.9020/78.I200 and titanium bracelet with titanium folding clasp for Ref. 95.9100.9020/78.I001
Price: The price of Ref. 95.9100.9020/78.I001 is HKD 541,300, while Ref. 12.9100.9020/78.I200 is HKD 619,800
