Although humans are accustomed to the continued existence of gravity, its influence is a major obstacle to the mechanical watchmaking industry. When the movement is at a rest position, the pulling force of gravity through the movement’s gear train will eventually cause slight errors. For centuries, watch brands have devised complex solutions to counteract the effects of gravity. Although wristwatches (as opposed to pocket watches or clocks) are more mobile and can alleviate most static gravity problems, the traditional remedy for mechanical movement is the tourbillon escapement. By rotating the escapement around its axis, the force of gravity is distributed more evenly throughout the movement, thereby achieving higher accuracy. For its latest high-end version, Zenith uses this tried-and-tested method of counteracting gravity and a more novel gyro stabilizer device. By embracing the present and future of gravity compensation, the limited edition Zenith Defy Zero G Sapphire and Zenith Defy 21 Double-Tourbillon Sapphire make the brand’s watchmaking capabilities a compelling focus.
Zenith Defy Zero G Sapphire and Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire are designed with a full sapphire case, 46 mm wide. The rest of the Defy 21 series adopts a sharp faceted flat form, but its sapphire material helps to emphasize the futuristic and sporty characteristics of the design in the image. Although many case designs will fall into chaos when presented in sapphire, in these iterations, the narrow bezel, tapered side chamfers and flat half-cap lugs remain clear. Although these clear cases can indeed uninterruptedly view the complex movements inside, they are indeed affected in terms of durability compared to their conventionally produced cousins. The Defy Zero G Sapphire and Defy 21 Double-Tourbillon Sapphire are only 30 meters water resistant, which is disappointing.
Although the dials of Zenith’s Defy Zero G Sapphire and Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire are gorgeous skeleton displays of the brand’s movement manufacturing capabilities, each model uses a completely different approach. Defy Zero G Sapphire is the more concise design in this pair of series. It adopts an open and airy layout and makes full use of the wide diameter of the case to create dramatic negative space. Although the layout may be simple compared to its counterparts, the execution is by no means so. Materials and finishes range from exposed meteorites to aventurine glass, miniature paintings, carved midnight blue PVD and brushed stainless steel used for skeleton bridges. The chronograph function is located on the 12 o’clock subdial, which combines a dark blue aventurine central part inspired by space and a bright exposed meteorite outer ring. Chemin-de-fer minute tracking. The small seconds dial at 10 o’clock is divided into a meteorite ring and a mottled orange part, which is hand-finished by a professional miniature artist to evoke the appearance of Mars. Zenith’s engraved navy blue PVD continued the starry sky effect of most of the dial in the image, but stopped for a short stay to draw attention to the iconic element of Defy Zero G Sapphire-its gyroscope at 6 o’clock. Module. This unique design does not rotate the escapement along the axis like a tourbillon, but uses a micro gyroscope to keep the escapement components level, regardless of the position of the watch. This is likely to produce an eye-catching spectacle on the wrist, even in the image, the complex frame around the balance wheel is visually impressive.
Zenith fans should be more familiar with the dial layout of the Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire because it follows the layout created by Zenith x Felipe Defy Double Tourbillon for Only Watch 2021. The complex skeleton design divides itself into three different visual levels, each of which is color-coded to make it easier to identify in the image. The top hollow bridge and the chronograph minute subdial at 3 o’clock are all engraved with blue PVD. The random star pattern highlights the zero-gravity inspiration of the design. For the lower bridge, the minute track, the power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock and the chronograph seconds at 6 o’clock, the brand chose a contrasting grainy silver tone, while the solid bridge forming the bottom layer is finished with pure midnight blue PVD, making them Fade into the background smoothly. The external decimal scale is a direct visual clue to the iconic feature of the Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire, which is a dazzling 1/100-second central chronograph hand that completes a dial cycle every second. When this unique chronograph element stops, a pair of skeletonized tourbillons at 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock will dominate. One of the tourbillons is used as the escapement of the basic movement, completing a complete rotation every 60 seconds at a beat rate of 36,000 bph, and is used as a running stopwatch. When the chronograph is activated, the second tourbillon is activated, vibrating at an extremely fast frequency of 360,000 bph, rotating once every five seconds. This sense of speed, coupled with the pure existence of a pair of tourbillons, wholesale watches replica
Zenith uses the self-produced El Primero 8812 S manual winding skeleton movement to power the Defy Zero G Sapphire. Viewed from the back side of the watch, the El Primero 8812 S contrasts the open simplicity of the dial side with the raised geometric mesh of engraved blue PVD skeleton bridges and rhodium-plated gear train elements. However, like the dial side, the gyroscope module occupies the center of the image. For the back of this complex device, Zenith uses hand-carved platinum hemispherical weights, decorated with gorgeous craters, reminiscent of the surface of the moon, and decorated with the brand’s star logo on the top. In terms of performance, El Primero 8812 S provides a stable 50-hour power reserve with a steady beat rate of 36,000 bph. For the Defy 21 double tourbillon sapphire, the brand switched to its internal El Primero 9020 automatic tourbillon chronograph movement. Although the dial side uses a layered bridge structure and an eye-catching double tourbillon, the back cover side of the El Primero 9020 provides a relatively simple view. The wide engraved blue PVD bridge is cut away to show the elements of the gear train, but the matching oversized star rotor covers most of the visual space in the image. When the torque-requiring UHF chronograph and its accompanying tourbillon are not used, the El Primero 9020 can provide 50 hours of power reserve at El Primero’s iconic 36,000 bph beat rate, and COSC-certified chronometer-level accuracy . Zenith Defy Zero G Sapphire and Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire are paired with navy blue Cordura-effect textured rubber straps, and black lining creates a sharp contrast. As an added bonus, buyers of both designs were invited to participate in the exclusive zero-gravity parabolic flight of Novespace, a subsidiary of the French National Space Center. The flight is currently scheduled to take place in Bordeaux, France in February 2022, but the brand does not mention travel accommodation.
The limited-edition Zenith Defy Zero G Sapphire and Zenith Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire use two completely different but equally spectacular methods of counteracting gravity, both strikingly showcase the brand’s considerable expertise in fine watches. Defy Zero G Sapphire and Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire are each limited edition.
