LAND ROVER AND ZENITH CREATE ‘DEFY 21 EDITION’ WATCH TO CELEBRATE NEW DEFENDER

15 January 2020

Zenith has worked with Land Rover to create a special edition watch celebrating the reimagining of the Defender as a motoring icon for the 21st century.

Zenith has worked with Land Rover to create a special edition watch celebrating the reimagining of the Defender as a motoring icon for the 21st century.

Like the legendary SUV that inspired it, the Defy 21 Land Rover Edition is modern, durable and highly desirable. Timed to coincide with the arrival of New Defender, it is limited to only 250 pieces.

The Defy 21 Land Rover Edition is the latest result of a four‑year partnership between Land Rover and the historic Swiss watchmaker.

For the next chapter in our partnership with Zenith we wanted a timepiece that captured the essence of the new Land Rover Defender: modern, durable and highly desirable. With subtle details that capture the character of new Defender, this for me is the best timepiece we have created with Zenith.

Professor Gerry McGovern OBE, Land Rover Chief Creative Officer

The Defy 21 Land Rover Edition represents a complete makeover of Zenith’s resolutely 21st century chronograph with a raw and minimalistic look. Crafted in a special micro‑blasted titanium case that absorbs light from all angles to better accentuate its faceted surfaces, it is both eye‑catching and stealth‑like.

Like the El Primero and its numerous versions through the years, the Land Rover Defender now enters a new era with a bold and distinctive character. Zenith’s Defy 21 Land Rover Edition chronograph also reinterprets the past in a forward‑looking way, with an emphasis on durability, precision, comfort and bold design.

Julien Tornare, CEO Zenith

The Defy 21 Land Rover Edition’s dial appears as one with the case with its muted matte grey color, offering a very different look to the open‑dial standard versions of the Defy 21. Orange and white painted markers add legibility and contrast to the display, as do the specially shaped skeleton hands. A first for the Defy 21, the power reserve display for the 1/100sec chronograph is executed in the form of a liner window instead of a hand.

Through the specially engraved case back, the display offers a view of the El Primero 21 1/100sec movement with a custom oscillating weight, in the form of a miniaturized five‑spoke Land Rover wheel. Like the different modular packs offering Defender the perfect adaptability to different driving needs, the Defy 21 Land Rover Edition comes with two straps: the ‘Adventure’ strap with an all‑terrain textured rubber, and the ‘Country’ featuring a grey rubber strap with a fabric effect and orange stitching.

Zenith and Land Rover have previously collaborated to create the El Primero Range Rover, Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar and Defy Classic Evoque watches.

Notes to Editors

EDITORS’ NOTES

For additional pictures go to:

http://pressroom.zenith‑watches.com/login/?redirect_to=%2F&reauth=1

 

About Land Rover

Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true 'breadth of capability' across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's SUV sectors, with 80 per cent of this model range exported to over 100 countries.

 

About Zenith

With innovation as its guiding star, Zenith features exceptional in‑house developed and manufactured movements in all its watches, such as the architectural DEFY Inventor watch with its unique, ultra‑thin monolithic oscillator that replaces the 30+ components of a standard regulating organ, and the DEFY El Primero 21 with its high‑frequency 1/100th of a second chronograph. Since its establishment in 1865, Zenith has consistently redefined the notions of precision and innovation, including the first serially produced automatic chronograph calibre “El Primero”, beating at the high rate of 36,000 VpH. Always one step ahead, Zenith is writing a new chapter in its unique legacy by setting new standards of performance and inspired design. Zenith is here to shape the future of Swiss watchmaking, accompanying those who dare to challenge time itself and reach for the stars.

 

DEFY EL PRIMERO 21 DEFENDER EDITION

Reference: 97.9000.9004/01.R787

 

UNIQUE SELLING POINTS

1/100th of a second chronograph movement

Exclusive dynamic signature of one rotation per second

1 escapement for the Watch (36,000 VpH ‑ 5 Hz);

1 escapement for the Chronograph (360,000 VpH ‑ 50 Hz)

TIME LAB‑Chronometer certified

Tribute to the legendary Defender

Limited edition of 250 units

 

MOVEMENT

El Primero 9004 automatic

Calibre: 14¼``` (Diameter: 32.80 mm)

Thickness: 7.9 mm

Components: 293

Jewels: 53

Frequency 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)

Power reserve approx. 50 hours

Special oscillating weight with “circular satined” motif

 

FUNCTIONS

1/100th of a second chronograph functions

Chronograph power‑reserve indication at 12 o'clock

Hours and minutes in the centre

Small seconds at 9 o'clock

‑ Central chronograph hand

‑ 30‑minute counter at 3 o'clock

‑ 60‑second counter at 6 o'clock

 

CASE, DIAL & HANDS

Special microblasted titanium‑matt case

Diameter: 44 mm

Opening diameter: 35.5 mm

Thickness: 14.50 mm

Crystal: Domed sapphire crystal with anti‑reflective treatment on both sides

Case back: Transparent sapphire crystal

Water resistance: 10 ATM

Dial: Special matt grey dial with special power reserve indicator

Hour markers: Rhodium‑plated, faceted and coated with Super‑LumiNova®SLN C3

Hands Special anthracite hands, faceted and coated with Super‑LumiNova®SLN C3

 

STRAP AND BUCKLE

Bracelet: Grey Rubber “Adventure”. Comes with an additional “Country” fabric effect strap

Buckle: Titanium double folding buckle