BLACK LOOK
Black is an ally of design. It means elegance, modernity and a sports feel – a colour adapted to and enhancing all materials. And here’s the proof!
Its ancestor hit the headlines in 1969, when it became the first wrist watch to include split times down to 1/10th of a second as a standard feature. With the Defy El Primero 21 Black Ceramic, Zenith has raised accuracy to 1/100th of a second with the help of the impressive automatic movement equipped with a double chain and two escapements. One runs at a frequency of 5Hz for the watch, while the second is dedicated to the chronograph and rises to 50Hz – or 360,000 vibrations an hour! This cutting-edge mechanism provides 50 hours of power reserve and is displayed through an open-work dial. The components create a monochrome relief structure that is part of the timepiece’s design.
While the small second counter at 9 o’clock is discreet, a few time indicators provide colour to the Defy El Primero 21 Black Ceramic. The power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock and the central second hand are adorned with a red tip, while the 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock is dressed in blue and the 60-second totaliser at 6 o’clock is grey. The ruthenium hands and hour markers are coated in Super-LumiNova®. They are all designed to provide perfect readability. The design is highlighted by the judicious choice of a 44mm-wide case. Made of black, high-tech polished ceramic, its presence acts on the dial like a tuxedo at an evening party, providing elegance, but discreet enough not to overshadow your partner’s outfit.
The Defy El Primero 21 Black Ceramic is worn with a strap made from the same material as the case or with a rubber strap featuring a double folding clasp made of titanium with black DLC coating.
Price: 12,100 EUR (rubber strap) – 14,900 EUR (ceramic strap) zenith.com
By Dan Diaconu