Zenith Defy: the future of mechanical watchmaking

The Swiss watchmaker Zenith has been revolutionizing mechanical watchmaking since 1985. Early success came in the form of the El Primero calibre, a movement which holds iconic status in the world of watchmaking. More recently, in 2017, Zenith began a new chapter in its prestigious history with the launch of the Zenith Defy, an extraordinary chronograph which can accurately measure time to 1/100th of a second.

This series of contemporary and futuristic watches has revolutionized the history of manufacturing and mechanical watchmaking: the traditional free-sprung balance wheel employed for over three centuries has been replaced by a patented oscillator designed in-house, which guarantees the highest frequency, reliability and stability.

The first model in the collection is the Zenith Defy Inventor – a timepiece which offers superlative technical performance wrapped up in a contemporary aesthetic, thanks to the use of cutting-edge materials.

With its incredibly high frequency (18 Hz compared to the traditional 4 Hz) and power reserve lasting up to two days, the Defy Inventor owes its exceptional specifications to the revolutionary technology of the Zenith Oscillator, capable of developing and producing a mechanical movement in its entirety.

This innovative mechanism guarantees a series of undisputed advantages, not least in the form of unbeatable reliability: by replacing the thirty or so components of a standard regulating system, this unique, ultra-thin element thus eliminates contact, friction, wear and deformation. Made of monocrystalline silicon, it also optimizes stability, remaining unaffected by temperature variations and magnetic fields.

From an aesthetic perspective, the Defy Inventor is an ingenious mix of architectural and organic elements. The dial presents a sophisticated open-worked construction made of ultra-light materials such as titanium, complemented by a textured bezel realized in Aeronith (an aluminium compound three times lighter than titanium).