Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma II Watch

Broadening its roster of Defy timepieces, Zenith has just unveiled one of its most colorful offerings to date: the Defy 21 Chroma II in black and white ceramic builds.

During LVMH Watch Week back in 2022, Zenith debuted its first Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma II Watch limited-edition watch attired in a white ceramic case and paired with colorful accents. The two new watches also come in a 44mm ceramic build, one in black, and the other in white. Aside from the different case hues, both versions also feature a different set of color accents on their respective dials. The black ceramic variant is incorporated with primary colors for its hour markers, while the white ceramic piece opts for bright and bold tones.

A closer look at the timepieces reveals the thoughtfully put-together color spectrum, with each bridge on the open dial echoing the hues of its nearby hour market. The same level of detail also applies to the Cordura-texture rubber strap, as well as the rubber grip on the crowns.

The timepiece runs on Zenith’s in-house El Primero 9004 movement and is equipped with two independent regulating organs and gear trains that operate its regular timekeeping functions, and its chronograph features.

Limited to 500 pieces each, the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma II Watch retails at $15,600 USD. The white ceramic variant will be available via Zenith’s boutiques as well as select retailers. Meanwhile, the black ceramic version is exclusive to Zenith’s official website and boutiques.
Zenith’s Defy collection is arguably one of its most diverse. It showcases skeletonization, revivals, innovative materials, gem setting, tourbillons, and numerous pops of color. No matter what size, shape, or composition the Defy watches take, each variation exemplifies Zenith’s watchmaking prowess and highlight’s the brand’s signature El Primero automatic high-frequency movement.

With its latest additions, Zenith uses classic black or white ceramic as the base, providing the perfect level of contrast for the bold rainbow accents. The new limited edition Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma II Watch builds on the Defy 21 Chroma limited edition first launched at LVMH Watch Week last year. The original features a white ceramic construction and complementary white rubber strap with rainbow accents on the dial, strap, and crown as well as on the open-worked movement visible both through the dial and exhibition caseback.
For the updated white edition, Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma II Watch emphasizes a range of blues and pinks as opposed to the full rainbow spectrum. In addition, we get the added bonus of an all-new black ceramic version whose pops of color include the classic trio of primary hues: red, yellow, and blue. In each iteration, the colors extend from the hour markers to the 1/100th of a second scale and even the hands of the chronograph subdials as well as the crown’s rubber grip ring and the stitching on the Cordura-effect rubber strap.

The El Primero 9004 movement also gets a splash of the rainbow treatment, with each bridge finished in a different metallic color thanks to PVD-coating and the oscillating weight rendered in blue with satin finishings.