The modern look of Zenith's Defy collection isn't merely stylistic but also represents the truly innovative movement technology inside. New versions of the Defy 21 chronograph and Defy Classic are among the most striking yet, with ceramic cases and bezels in a contrasty black-and-white colorway that wouldn't look out of place on a Star Wars stormtrooper. Technically, they seem nearly as futuristic.
The Defy 21 chronograph runs on a (very) modern version of Zenith's famous El Primero movement. While its time-telling mechanism operates at an unusually high rate of 5Hz, the chronograph uses a separate escapement and operates ten times as fast at a crazy 50Hz, allowing for stopwatch measurements down to a hundredth of a second. The three-hand Defy Classic doesn't have the exotic features of the chrono, but its Elite 670 automatic movement is made in-house and offers an 50-hour power reserve. Both watches are thoroughly skeletonized so you can see the movements from both the dial side and via the case back.
The black ceramic cases and white ceramic bezels have a sandblasted finish for a muted texture. The Zenith Defy 21 chronograph has a bold 44mm case and a price of $13,600 while the Defy Classic is 41mm and $8,200. Both will be available only at brand boutiques or online directly from Zenith.
