The Colorful Evolution of The ZENITH DEFY 21: Chroma II Unveiled!
5 min read
First introduced in 1969, the El Primero was the world's first automatic chronograph movement capable of measuring time to 1/10th of a second, beating at 36,000 vph. ZENITH has built upon this innovative legacy in recent years with its DEFY collection, pushing the boundaries of high-frequency precision.
In 2017, ZENITH launched the revolutionary DEFY El Primero 21, with a movement operating at 36,000 vph for timekeeping and 360,000 vph for the chronograph - allowing measurement to 1/100th of a second. The DEFY 21 also features a dynamic signature of the chronograph hand making one rotation per second.
Beyond technical innovations, the DEFY 21 has showcased ZENITH's bold and modern design aesthetic. Last year at LVMH 2022, the brand unveiled the DEFY 21 Chroma in a white ceramic case with vibrant rainbow-colored accents on the dial, movement, and strap. Now, ZENITH is continuing this colorful creative direction with two new limited editions - the DEFY 21 Chroma II in white and black ceramic.
The two versions of the DEFY 21 Chroma II utilize different tones within the same rainbow color spectrum. The black ceramic model features bolder primary shades of red, blue, and yellow. Meanwhile, the white ceramic variant has brighter pastel hues with more emphasis on blues and pinks.
On both models, the rainbow colors are spread evenly across the open dial, the tips of the faceted hands, and the uniquely decorated movement bridges - all following a seamless gradient. The meticulously applied colors on the dial markers and 1/100th second scale extend to the rubber crown grip and cordura rubber strap stitching, matching the dial shades.
The chronograph counters on the open dial are color-matched to the case and sit over the vividly adorned movement underneath. Each bridge has its own metallic color tone from the spectrum. Visible front and center is the El Primero 21 automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre beating at 36,000 vph and 50Hz, with two independent regulating systems for the timekeeping and chronograph functions.
The DEFY Chroma II in white ceramic is limited to 500 pieces, while the black ceramic is 500 pieces as well. They will be available at ZENITH boutiques and authorized retailers.
