SUBTLE TONES
For this new series limited to 200 timepieces, the manufacturer with the star combines its high frequency mechanics with an iridescent composition of spectral nuances.
The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd left its indelible mark on the minds of many with such gems as Time and Money, to name but the most well-known. The other memorable distinction of this record is its cover. A white ray shines on a prism and turns into a rainbow. Although Isaac Newton broke down this natural phenomenon into seven colors to echo the number of notes in music theory, the actual reality is much more complex. For as in music, there exists a wide range of nuances. Be that as it may, this harmonious gradation has become a symbol. It is the latter that graces the immaculate scenography of the Defy 21 Chroma signed by Zenith.
Touches of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, and indigo adorn the markers and the scale dedicated to 1/100th of a second that encircle the openworked dial. On the latter one finds the chronograph sub-dials, the small second at 9 o’clock and a 50-hour power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock. All the time data is powered by the El Primero 9004 caliber protected by a 44mm diameter mat white ceramic case. A modern take on the legendary 1969 self-winding movement, this mechanism has two escapements. One is for the watch with a rhythm of 36,000 vibrations per hour, the other is for the chronograph with a high frequency of 50 Hz.
The coordinated white rubber wristband with Cordura effect and multicolored stitching on the Defy 21 Chroma finalizes this bridge to performance and precision.
Price: CHF 14,400 zenith.com
By Dan Diaconu