BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Zenith caused quite a stir in the world of horology when it introduced the Defy El Primero 21, a watch powered by a new modern and advanced version of the iconic El Primero movement, capable of measuring up to 1/100th of a second. Now the brand has come up with a few new variations of this watch dedicated to the Southeast Asian countries Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Singapore edition
To highlight the technical advancements of the El Primero 21, Zenith gave the Defy 21 a futuristic skeletonized face. These new watches keep the sci-fi flavor intact but add on a few intriguing touches that make them special. Immediately noticeable is extensive use of white along with bright red accents. While this color scheme certainly looks cool, it is worth noting that these two colors are a part of the national flags of the three countries these watches pay a tribute to making for a thoughtful choice. Apart from the colorway, the layout remains unchanged with a power reserve indicator under 12, a 30-minute counter at 3, a running seconds display at 9, a chronograph seconds sub-register at 6.
Malaysia edition
Like previously released defy watches, the case follows a distinctive angular geometry. It is crafted from titanium and is beautifully finished with a nice mix of brushed and polished surfaces. It measures 44mm in diameter which is on the larger side, but the integrated lug structure should make the watch sit comfortably on the wrist. On the front is a sapphire window whereas the case back has been kept closed and has been decorated with a printed motif of an important landmark from the respective country. So, the Malaysian Edition gets the Petronas Towers, the Singapore version comes with the Marina Bay Sands complex and the Indonesia edition gets the Borobudur temple on the case back.
Indonesia edition
Powering these watches is the Zenith El Primero 9004 movement. This is an automatic column wheel-based chronograph movement which is equipped with not one but two escapement mechanisms. One for normal timekeeping that operates at 36000 VPH and the other dedicated to the chronograph function operates at a surreal 360000 VPH making it possible to record up to 1/100th of a second. It offers a power reserve of 50 hours for the regular functions and around 50 minutes for the chronograph. The movement has been beautifully decorated and features a star-shaped oscillating weight inspired by the brand logo.
The new Asian limited-edition Zenith Defy El Primero 21 watches would come attached to a leather strap that once again is influenced by the national colors of the countries. A total of 50 watches would be made with pricing and segregation as mentioned below:
Singapore edition: – Price – 19,000 Singapore Dollar, limited to 20 pieces
Malaysia edition: – Price – 53,020 Malaysian Ringgit, limited to 10 pieces
Indonesia edition: – Price – 221,540,000 Indonesian Rupiah, limited to 20 pieces
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