Showing at WatchTime New York 2017: Zenith Defy El Primero 21


Zenith has become the latest luxury watch brand to announce its participation at WatchTime New York, now just over three weeks away. At this year’s Baselworld, the brand capitalized on its reputation as the king of high-frequency with the introduction of the Defy El Primero 21; Zenith will be showcasing this groundbreaking chronograph at the event.

The new movement inside the Defy El Primero 21, automatic caliber El Primero 9004, has two escapements: one for the timekeeping, beating at 36,000 vph (5 Hz), and one for the chronograph, beating at a frequency of 50 Hz, or 360,000 vph, allowing the watch to display hundredths of a second on the central dial.

Zenith Defy El Primero 21 - soldier

The standard frequency in watchmaking is 28,800 beats per hour, or 3 Hz. The most celebrated modern example of a high-frequency movement is the original Zenith El Primero, beating at 36,000 vph, or 5 Hz. Developed in 1969, it is still used today and represents the standard in high frequency.

Back in the 1940s, Observatory Chronometer competitions in Switzerland awarded prizes to the most accurate watch movements, and the winners (Zenith holds the record, with 2,333 chronometry prizes) were inevitably the movements with the highest frequencies, but the high speed created a lot of wear on the delicate components of a watch escapement. Today, advancements in component materials have helped solved that. Silicon hairsprings and balance wheels, titanium components and other secret weapons make it possible to create escapements in mechanical movements that are almost indestructible, with more precisely engineered gears and pinions that hold their shape with minimal friction and more precise gear meshing, even when molded into tiny components. In some cases, there is no longer any need for lubrication. These advancements have made it possible for watchmakers to build escapements that vibrate at much higher frequencies and track elapsed times to 1/100th of a second.

Zenith Defy El Primero 21 - reclining

The new-generation twin-barrel El Primero 9004 has a balance spring made of carbon-matrix carbon nanotube composite, a Zenith-patented material that is resistant to gravity and temperature fluctuations. It is anti-magnetic to 15,000 gauss. In addition to central hours and minutes, there is a small seconds sundial at 9 o’clock, a 1/100th-second central chronograph hand, a 30-minute totalizer at 3 o’clock, seconds and 1/10th second at 6 o’clock, and a percentage indication of the chronograph power-reserve at 12 o’clock. A patented chronograph-reset control mechanism composed of three heart pieces and an exclusive starter mechanism allow simultaneous resetting of the seconds as well as tenths and hundredths of a second.

Zenith Defy El Primero 21 - reclining

The El Primero caliber 9004 is COSC-certified and has a 50-hour power reserve for the time and a 50-minute power reserve for the chronograph. The 44-mm case is available in three options: titanium, priced at $9,600; titanium with an openworked dial for $10,600; and ceramicized aluminum with an openworked dial for $11,600. Check out a video below of the Defy El Primero in action, which we filmed during the watch’s debut in Baselworld:

Interested in seeing this new, avant-garde chronograph watch in person and perhaps finding out how it looks on your own wrist? Join us on October 13-14 for WatchTime New York at Manhattan’s Gotham Hall. Click here of additional info and tickets!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

No Responses to “Showing at WatchTime New York 2017: Zenith Defy El Primero 21”

Show all responses
  1. Zenith watches are a luxury watches brand and cheap in price all watches have perfect feature and looking wise amazing watch i like this brand

    Reply
Leave a Reply