Simply Abu Dhabi XXX

1 8 8 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I I n 2017, Zenith launched the remarkable Defy El Primero 21—the exceptional hundredth-of- a-second chronograph—and the first-generation Defy Lab, which the brand states is the world’s most accurate watch due to its monocrystalline silicon oscillator. Defy is now a full-fledged collection with various levels of mechanical complexity. At the beginning of this year, Zenith added diamonds to bring dazzle to the staggering mechanics and to mark the opening of a pop-up store on Paris’ prestigious Place Vendôme address. Back in 1969 Zenith set the bar with the El Primero chronograph, which operated at 5Hz/36.000 bpm, meaning you could measure time with a 1/10th of a second accuracy. Now the new El Primero 21 improves on this tenfold. Running at a staggering 50Hz, the chronograph measures up to 1/100th of a second. The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Diamond has all the groundbreaking technological characteristics of the new line, but with some style evolution too. At its heart beats the El Primero 9004 movement with its 50-hour power reserve. It is housed in 44 mm case that is water resistant to 100m and features a domed sapphire crystal and sapphire caseback. The dial architecture features with a small seconds at 9 o’clock, chronograph hand in the centre, 30- minute counter at 3 o’clock, 60-second register at 6 o’clock, red power reserve at 12 o’clock, and a chapter ring marked off from 1 to 100, around which the central hand races at a mind-boggling one revolution per second. The new El Primero 9004 movement also has two balance springs made of carbon nanotubes and twin chain architecture, with one escapement dedicated to the time function and the other to the chronograph. The Defy El Primero 21 Diamond and Full Diamond both have a brushed titanium case and a leather-lined black rubber strap. The 21Diamond’s bezel is masterfully set with 44 baguette-cut diamonds amounting to almost 2.5 carats, while the full diamond version has 288 baguette-cut diamonds totalling five carats set into the bezel and the case along with 12 glittering diamond hour markers. Safe to say the inside of this watch is the real deal and the dazzling exterior on these new editions is equally impressive. The skeletonisation, star-tipped sweep- seconds hand, big luminescent baton-type hands, and facetted hour markers combine to make a stunning dial and the addition of diamonds, for many watch lovers, will be the cherry on top. ZenithDefyElPrimero21 FullDiamond