Zenith Defy 21 El Primero Chronograph 44mm Titanium

The series was introduced in 2018 and immediately became much loved and sought after by fans of the brand. The model presented today was launched a little later, with its main difference from the first versions being that some of the bridges are blued and, together with the blue rotor, they add a very beautiful accent to the overall look. We cannot help but start with the dial, as it is the most impressive thing about this watch – skeletonized, executed with great attention to detail, it is a reference to the epic 2017 Defy Lab limited edition. Its other remarkable quality is that, unlike most similar watches, this one remains legible – thanks to the large, generously "illuminated" hour markers, which are attached to the contrasting outer ring of the case. The hands are also large, in the shape of double swords, and the chronograph subdials are located in the usual positions for an El Primero. Overall, the dial manages to be interesting without looking cluttered. The case is the next element that draws attention – besides being a remake of the original Defy from the 1970s, it is completely contemporary – comfortable, light, made of a modern material, with impressive detail and multiple planes. The fact that its thickness is just 14.5 mm not only contributes to the comfort but also suggests that an equally impressive movement is hidden inside the watch. And of course, the back of the watch – as with most of the brand's modern models – is a true pleasure for the eye. Besides allowing one to enjoy the movement within (which is a work of art in itself), the entire architecture is very well thought out, proportional, and exceptionally finished. The movement deserves separate attention because behind the internal factory designation El Primero Calibre 9004 lies a true achievement of technical thought and the art of watchmaking. It is not for nothing that the series is called Defy 21 – this is truly a 21st-century movement. The El Primero 21 is created with two separate escapements, each with its own balance spring, made from the patented Carbon-Matrix Carbon Nanotube material. One of them is responsible for timekeeping and operates at the traditional El Primero frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour, while the second is dedicated entirely to the chronograph and operates at an impressive 360,000 vibrations per hour. This means that when the chronograph is started, the seconds hand makes a full rotation of the dial in one second. The seconds are then counted on the 60-second subdial at '6 o'clock', and the minutes on the 30-minute register at '3 o'clock'. Due to the enormous amount of energy required to power the chronograph at this frequency, the function can run for up to 50 minutes. To monitor this parameter, a power reserve indicator is integrated into the watch. The watch is truly impressive, and we sincerely hope it will become a worthy part of a connoisseur's and expert's collection, because such a fine example at such a price is hard to find. The fact that it is the version with a titanium bracelet makes the offer even more attractive, as such variants are extremely rare on the market.