BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Earlier this year, Zenith unveiled the Defy Extreme, a collection of technically advanced and rugged chronograph watches that can measure up to 1/100th of a second and can easily handle extreme wear and tear. Now the brand has released the Defy Extreme Desert, a limited-edition watch inspired by the desert sand.
Like previously released variations of the Defy Extreme, the Extreme Desert features a sapphire dial to offer unparalleled transparency and provide the wearer a glimpse of its complicated internals from the front of the watch itself. The Desert influence is exhibited through the counters that feature a brown-tinted center and khaki-colored chapter rings. Furthermore, the skeletonized hands, as well as the applied hour index, have been generously filled with beige superluminova. There is no change as far as the dial layout is concerned. You still get a 30-minute counter at 3, a chronograph seconds counter at 6, a running seconds register at 9, and a power reserve indicator at 12, and a chronograph chapter ring on the outer periphery to measure up to 1/100th of a second. In all, the dial is well laid out and is surprisingly legible.
As the name suggests, this watch is capable of handling extreme and challenging situations, and the case stands true to the theme. It bears a bold and angular geometry and has been crafted from grade 5 Titanium, a material stronger, lighter, and more corrosion resistant compared to stainless steel. It measures 45mm in diameter and has a thickness of 15.5mm. Like previous variations, the case on this watch also comes with a signature dodecagonal bezel on top, but what sets it apart from its siblings is that this bezel is made using Falcon’s eye, a quartz gemstone. The case is water-resistant to a healthy 200 meters, which implies you can easily jump into the watch with this beast on the wrist.
The mechanical heart of this watch is the avant-garde Calibre 9004. An in-house automatic column wheel-based movement the caliber 9004 comprises 53 jewels and is equipped with not one but two regulating organs, one for normal timekeeping and the other one for chronograph functions, both operating at 36000 VPH.
The new Zenith Defy Extreme Desert is limited to just 50 pieces and will retail for CHF 21,900. The watch would be accompanied by a titanium bracelet, a sand-colored rubber strap, and a black Velcro strap, all equipped with an easy strap change mechanism.
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