Events
Watches & Wonders 2021: Zenith New Releases
Zenith Watches reveals their latest watch designs at Watches & Wonders 2021: The Zenith Defy 21 Spectrum Collection and a revival of some of their most historic pieces with the new Zenith ICONS program.
This year at Watches & Wonders 2021, Zenith has revealed the new bright and colorful Zenith Defy 21 Spectrum Collection along with the revival of some of their most historic pieces thanks to the new Zenith ICONS program.
Looking to the future, Zenith’s new Defy 21 Spectrum collection consists of five color variations representing the different wavelengths of visible light, with each version featuring a bezel set with baguette-cut precious stones to match the colored movements and rubber straps: green tsavorites for the green edition, orange sapphires for the orange edition, blue sapphires for the blue edition, amethyst for the purple edition, and black spinels for the black edition.
Featuring a stainless steel case embedded with 288 brilliant-cut diamonds, the bedazzled timepieces are powered by El Primero 21, Zenith’s revolutionary 1/100th of a second chronograph caliber with matching color movements.
The new Zenith Defy Spectrum Collection pieces are limited to 10 pieces of each color and are priced at USD$35,900.
Zenith Defy 21 Spectrum Collection Technical Specifications
Watch Model
- Reference 32.9005.9004/05.R944: Orange Limited Edition 10 pieces (Boutique only)
- Reference 32.9006.9004/06.R918: Blue Limited Edition 10 pieces (Boutique only)
- Reference 32.9007.9004/07.R922: Purple Limited Edition 10 pieces (Boutique only)
- Reference 32.9008.9004/08.R943: Green Limited Edition 10 pieces (Boutique only)
- Reference 32.9009.9004/09.R921: Black Limited Edition 10 pieces (Boutique only)
Case
- Stainless steel set with 288 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds
- Bezel set with 44 VVS colored baguette-cut sapphires
- Diameter: 44 mm
- Height: 15.4mm
- See-through case back
- Screw-in crown adorned with an “M”
- Water-resistant to 3 ATM
Dial/Functions/Indications
- Openworked dial with two different-colored counters
- Colored main plate on movement + colored oscillating weight
- Rhodium-plated hours and hands markers with Super-LumiNova®
- Hours and minutes in the center with small seconds at 9 o’clock 1/100th of a second Chronograph: Central chronograph hand that makes one turn each second, 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 60-second counter at 6 o’clock, Chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock.
Movement
- El Primero 9004 automotive movement
- Power reserve minimum 50 hours
- Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5Hz)
Bracelet
- Colored rubber with “Cordura effect” and titanium double folding clasp
Price
- Price of the Zenith Defy 21 Spectrum Collection Watch (limited to 10 pieces of each color): USD$35,900 /34,900 CHF available from June 2021
The second announcement from Zenith is their plan to revive some of their most sought-after and important vintage models with the Zenith ICONS program.
Selecting the brand’s most important historical references, Zenith will curate a selection of iconic and vintage Zenith watches to be restored and certified by the Manufacture in Le Locle and sold exclusively at Zenith’s boutiques.
Each Zenith ICON watch will come with a 3-year warranty and “passport” to track its path in this new life.
“This is an exciting new chapter for Zenith’s legacy, and I’m extremely proud of the teams at the Zenith Manufacture for taking on this initiative,” shared Julien Tornare Zenith CEO. “We are bridging the past with the future by celebrating Zenith’s rich history and the references that have become true icons of watchmaking. We are acquiring historical timepieces from sources who have cherished them for a very long time and allowing others the opportunity to enjoy them. These rare pieces can now embark on a second life using existing resources at the Manufacture, and I’m really excited to share these pieces of history with our customers. This is just the beginning!”
The Zenith Icons program begins with finding the most well-preserved examples of its most iconic historical references.
Once a watch is found that appears to be in excellent condition, the Manufacture works with its Heritage department to conduct research, tracing back the watch’s origins to ensure that all parts are genuine and coherent.
Thanks to a massive archive spanning the entire history of the Manufacture’s production, Zenith can identify and authenticate even the smallest component of any watch it has ever built. Once the Heritage Department approves a watch, the Manufacture purchases it and hands it to the Heritage team, who conduct further inspections on it.
Once the Heritage department has approved the watch, the timepiece enters the restoration phase to retain as many original parts and materials as possible.
After this is completed, a “passport” is issued for the Zenith ICON watch and stored digitally in the Zenith Archives to provide a 3-year warranty covering the movements and any manufacturing defects and normal wear-and-tear of components.
The aim is to release Zenith Icons pieces as capsule collections, bringing together references with a shared history, function, or theme. One of the first collections, available at Shanghai Nanjing West Road Boutique, will focus on some of the earliest and most iconic El Primero references from 1969 to 1972.
A384
The A384 made its debut in 1969 as the face of the El Primero that figured on launch press cuttings and on the cover of the first El Primero brochures. It stands out with its “square barrel” case signed with the Zenith 4-pointed star logo and its “panda” dial – which has turned tropical in this case, making it all the more desirable.
A385
One of the original trio of stainless steel references that launched alongside the El Primero calibre, the A385 is the model Zenith chose for its advertisements and photo-shoots in 1969. It left its mark on the era with its “shaded smoky brown” gradient dial, unprecedented at the time, and its “square barrel” case, signed with the Zenith 4-pointed star logo.
A386
What would become the template for Zenith’s signature Chronomaster line, the A386 was launched in 1969 in a more classical round-case with straight lugs variant of the first El Primero-equipped watch. It garnered attention for its unprecedented tri-colour chronograph counters and decimal scale, becoming one of the most significant references in the history of the El Primero calibre and an icon among chronograph wristwatches.
