Some watches whisper, but the Zenith DEFY Extreme Chroma screams for attention not with volume, but with an explosion of color that transforms one of horology's most precise instruments into a wearable work of kinetic art. Announced this week from Le Locle, the DEFY Extreme Chroma 100-piece limited editions mark the return of Zenith's boldest design experiment: applying a full spectrum of PVD-coated colors to the bridges of the El Primero 9004 movement, creating what the manufacture aptly calls a "mechanical rainbow."
Following the success of previous Chroma iterations, Zenith has now unleashed this chromatic treatment on two DEFY Extreme editions that pair technical mastery with unapologetic artistic expression.
Two Rainbows in Titanium
The technical story here is exceptional. Inside each 45 mm titanium—micro-blasted blacked or regular titanium and white ceramic—case beats the El Primero 9004, featuring dual escapement systems that enable 1/100th-of-a-second chronograph accuracy. The timekeeping escapement operates at 36,000 vph—5 Hz—, while the chronograph system screams along at an astonishing 10x faster at 360,000 vph—50 Hz. The result is a central chronograph seconds hand that completes one full rotation every second, turning the chronograph operation into a mesmerizing mechanical ballet visible through the openworked dial. The automatic movement provides a power reserve of 50 hours and 54 minutes for the chronograph until it needs to be rewound.
Available in either black or white openworked configurations, the dial reveals the rainbow-coated bridges beneath, while the hour markers and printing mirror the movement's gradient spectrum. Even the subsidiary dial hands—positioned at 3, 6, and 9 for the chronograph minutes, chronograph seconds, and running seconds—and the power reserve at 12 o’clock, feature colored tips that extend the polychrome theme.
The Fine Details
The case construction marries titanium and ceramic across two distinct executions. The black edition ref. 97.9113.9004/33.I200 features micro-blasted titanium with black micro-blasted titanium accents and a striking blue star-shaped oscillating weight. Meanwhile, the white edition ref. 95.9114.9004/69.I203 combines brushed and polished titanium with white ceramic elements, crowned by an electric green oscillating weight. Both watches measure 45 mm in diameter, have a 15.4 mm thickness, a 51 mm lug-to-lug span, and are rated to 200 meters of water resistance.
Zenith hasn't forgotten versatility; therefore, each watch ships with three strap options, including black or white embossed rubber, a titanium bracelet with matching finishes, and a black Velcro strap—all easily swapped via push-button releases integrated into the caseback.
The new DEFY Extreme Chroma is limited to 100 pieces per edition. For those who believe complications should captivate both technically and visually, this might be the most compelling high-frequency chronograph of the year, and of course, it had to be from Zenith.
Sticker Price USD 20,600. For more info on Zenith, click here.
