Zenith  Defy  Watches

Zenith Defy Watches: A Retro-Modern Journey 

Zenith Defy celebrates horological innovations. Rooting its history way back to the 1960’s, the Defy collection has been at the forefront of innovative craftsmanship since. With a retro-modern design, this collection from the Swiss manufacturer Zenith looks avant-garde yet functional. Its casings house powerful chronographs that track 1/100th of a second. Moreover, its bracelets offer a variety of material and colors that suit anyone’s needs. 

Polished yet bold, watches in the Zenith Defy collection is a product of Zenith’s wildest imaginations. It is where the DEFY laboratory puts to work everything it has envisioned for its future.

Prices at a Glance: Most Popular Zenith Defy Watches

How much is a Zenith Defy watch? 

Beyond its varying styles in color, tourbillon, and sizes, watches in the Zenith Defy collection remains high-performing and innovative. These extravagant yet robust watches call for a range of prices. Below is a list of some of its most famous models of the collection.

Prices for the Zenith Defy Classic Watches

A standard Zenith Defy watch is filled with the collection’s best features. With a roster of dial and strap colors to choose from, there is one show-stopping Zenith Defy Classic watch for everyone. Ahead of the curve, a classic celebrates traditional watchmaking without staying behind. The Zenith Defy collection has a very modern and fashion-forward look. If you want a muted powerhouse of a timepiece, owning a Classic is the way to go. 

Boasting its in-house calibre, a Zenith Defy Classic uses innovative technology. Tried and tested, these have had over one-fourth of a century of experience. Now, its proportions are ultra-thin. However, its calibre, power reserve, and automatic movement have never been this powerful. Prices for Zenith Defy Classic watches start from $5,400 USD. 

If you want to double-down on a show-stopping piece, a Zenith Defy Classic Brushed Titanium with 18K Gold is yours for the taking. You can own this piece at a price of $11,200 USD.

Prices for the Zenith Defy Midnight Watches

Zenith leaves no man nor woman behind. With the Zenith Defy Midnight collection, the brand offers a classic bejeweled watch for the ladies. It also brings a girl’s best friend to the table: white diamonds. 

Defy Midnight has a modern aesthetic, perfect for a woman who does not want to succumb to the norm. More specifically, the Zenith Defy Midnight Mother of Pearl watch sports a masculine stainless steel strap but pairs it gracefully with white diamonds and a blue dial. The price for the Mother of Pearl model is $6,329 USD.

Timepieces in the Midnight line also boast less than 150 components, a 4 Hz frequency, and a power reserve of 50 hours, such as the Zenith Defy Midnight Unisex Watch with Diamond Indexes. A timepiece from the Zenith Defy Midnight collection ranges from $6,000 USD to $7,000 USD. 

Prices for the Zenith Defy Extreme Watches

Debuting in 2021, the Zenith Defy Extreme has an “all-terrain’ chronograph that is precise wherever you bring it. Boasting a 200-meter water resistance, watches in this collection can play any game it wants to. A Defy Extreme timepiece can work hard and definitely play hard. 

The Zenith Defy Extreme watch runs on 5 Hz and 50 Hz. Using the El Primero, this watch has a double tourbillon. This timepiece also boasts one rotation per second, tracking up to 1/100th of said second. 

As for its straps, a Zenith Defy Extreme comes with interchangeable straps. Use it with rubber or velcro, whichever you deem fit for your next adventure. Topping this all off is the Defy Extreme’s 50-hour power reserve. This timepiece is a product of precision, accuracy, and resilience. Prices for the Zenith Defy Extreme watches start from $18,000 USD.

Prices for the Zenith Defy Classic Carbon Watches

With the special Carbon Fibre material, Zenith shows that there are many ways to give the Defy Classic a makeover. The Zenith Defy Classic Carbon is the newest offering of the Classic collection. Released in 2020, this watch is lighter and more durable than its predecessors. With a solid carbon bracelet, this watch manages to keep the Classic’s look while reinventing its features. 

This is a first for an automatic watch. No one has ever seen a solid carbon bracelet, as the horology industry keeps making carbon-plated ones. What’s the difference? A more ergonomic yet powerful watch that weighs only 65 grams. 

The Classic Carbon watch comes in a 44mm black carbon case with skeletonised movement. It is where automatic watches are headed. Most importantly, this is where Zenith is taking us: a bold, edgy, and technically flawless future. Prices for the Zenith Defy Classic Carbon watches range between $11,600 USD and $19,500 USD, depending on the strap you choose.

Zenith Defy: Is it a Good Investment?

The Zenith Defy collection stands out from other Zenith collections because it matches modernity with tradition. These timepieces embrace where watches are headed, and not as fickle about upholding traditional looks. 

These do, however, put importance to tried and tested methods. Zenith Defy watches balance modern aesthetic with the ages-old traditional watchmaking. It knows which features work, and which ones they can work on. 

The Zenith Defy collection invests in the future. Standing on the shoulders of its predecessors, owning a Defy watch is a great investment. Costing around $5,000 USD to $12,000 USD depending on the model, these are the best up and coming timepieces. 

Up Close with the Zenith Defy El Primero 21

There is no doubt that the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 is one of the Zenith Defy’s most innovative pieces. If anything, this may be the collection’s most popular offering. But what makes it tick? Why is it set above from the rest?

Features 

The most known feature of the El Primero 21 is its automatic chronograph. This is founded on half a century of research from Zenith, and is Defy’s most prized innovation. Also known as a ‘double tourbillon’, the El Primero 21 has two regulating organs. The first, regulates the watch and runs at 5 Hz. Its partner, the second tourbillon, regulates the chronograph, running at a whopping 50 Hz. Together, these make the El Primero 21 what it is. Because of these innovations, this chronograph is precise up to 1/100th of a second. This watch truly stands the test of time. 

Other features of this watch include a 50 hour power reserve and over 290 working components. This timepiece also comes in various colors. 

Aesthetic Value

Everyone wants a piece of the El Primero, but not everyone has the same style. Innovative and inclusive, the Defy El Primero 21 offers different color styles. 

The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 watches can come in either the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Land Rover Color, Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Blue Rubber, or even a Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Ceramic Dial. Their straps complement these shades, which are exclusive to the El Primero 21 collection. Timepieces under these collections can range from $9,000 USD to $12,000 USD. 

Whichever color you go for, an El Primero 21 comes in strong cases. From a Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Matte Titanium to a scratch-resistant ceramic case, the El Primero 21 has you covered. 

Quirky individuals may even prefer the Defy El Primero’s 21 Black & White Edition. Limited to only 100 pieces, this watch has contrasting black and white tones. This timepiece is definitely the more modern and fashion-forward of the bunch. 

Zenith Defy: Vintage and Limited-Edition Pieces

Despite being a modern man’s watch, Zenith Defy watches have come in many iterations throughout time. The very first Zenith Defy watch dates back to the 1960s. It came in a steel bracelet with a simple crystal bezel. Its other variants, such as a DeLuxe model, was known for its tonneau cases and octagonal shape. 

Its most famous El Primeros was made with 18k gold. Despite a hefty weight, the current price tag for vintage Zenith Defy watches are not as heavy. Some of these watches are priced around $1000 USD, making these vintage finds a worthy buy. However, its limited edition pieces are a different story. 

History Behind the Zenith Defy Collection

The Zenith brand prides itself in being one of the first manufacturers of watches. Founded by Georges Favre-Jacot in 1895, Zenith has had centuries to sharpen and perfect their craftsmanship. 

Favre-Jacot has always been interested in technical and avant-garde timepieces. Even during the 1960’s, with the launch of the first Defy watch, Zenith was already known for its fashion-forward thinking. The first roster of Zenith Defy watches had thick octagonal cases, which was not the common style of its era. 

Perhaps its most important feat is the first El Primero caliber. A sight to behold for its time, this measured up to 1/10th of a second. This was the genesis for the El Primero 21, which now measures 1/100th of a second.

5 Reasons to Buy a Zenith Defy Watch 

1. These watches have a modern aesthetic with traditional sensibilities. 

2. There is a Zenith Defy watch for everyone. No matter what your fashion statement is: muted or loud, a Zenith Defy is the watch for you. 

3. High-performance, only a Zenith Defy watch holds the El Primero 21. 

4. Zenith Defy watches have large historical value, with the first El Primero debuting in 1969. This is the genesis of the Defy Lab. 

5. Zenith Defy watches are innovative and classy. Buying a Zenith Defy watch keeps you ahead of the curves of horological technology. 

Zenith Defy: The Future of Traditional Watchmaking 

The Zenith Defy collection is a celebration of what is old and new. With over a century of history, Zenith is unafraid to challenge the norms it grew up building. Through the Defy collection, Zenith manages to rebuild its name and innovative nature. The El Primero 21 is only the beginning, as we expect Zenith to debut even more high-performing tourbillons and chronographs. Even better, timepieces that will be historical milestones in the future. Get these around your wrists while you can, because you should.