By Jovan K
You see a lot of watches come and go in this business, but every now and then, one lands that just looks right. This new Zenith DEFY Extreme Lapis Lazuli 06.9200.9004/51.I001 is one of those. They’re only making 50 of these, and it’s a nice way to nod to their ongoing 160th anniversary celebrations.
The case on this watch is what we call “extreme” for a reason. It’s a chunky 45mm x 15.4mm, built with a striking contrast of mirror-polished stainless steel and warm, matte yellow gold on the dodecagonal bezel and pusher protectors. The angular architecture is signature DEFY Extreme. Water resistance rating is 20 ATM.
The openworked lapis lazuli allows a peek at the movement beneath. It’s a natural stone with scattered pyrite that makes each dial unique. The outer 1/100th of a second scale is in blue, while the hands and markers match the yellow gold case. Subdials are simple, showing minutes at three, seconds at six, and small seconds at nine.
The watch relies on the El Primero 9004, the only mechanical chronograph you can actually buy today that times down to 1/100th of a second. Two separate escapements make it possible, one for the regular timekeeping at 5Hz (36,000 VpH) and another for the chronograph, which operates at 50Hz (360,000 VpH).
Zenith offers an interchangeable strap system featuring push-button release, including a steel bracelet, a black embossed rubber strap, and a black Velcro strap. It’s available now at Zenith boutiques and authorized retailers for CHF 32,900/EUR 34,900/USD 33,900.
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