Zenith El Primero

DEFY Midnight: Zenith Watches celebrates women with an expanded offering of timepieces

During the first edition of LVMH Watch Week in Dubai, Zenith celebrated women with an expanded offering of watches, presenting models dedicated entirely to women, among which the DEFY Midnight timepiece. The luxury watchmaking house also debuted its partnership with DJ Carl Cox, unveiling the special edition Zenith DEFY 21 CarlCox and the DEFY 21 Land Rover Edition watches.

Zenith was not content with making yet another ladies’ watch.The newest models mark the first time that Zenith has conceived women’s watches from the ground up. Zenith is elevating both ends of the spectrum of women’s watches. On one side, the resolutely contemporary DEFY Midnight and on the other, the timelessly elegant Elite collection.

“I’m very proud that Zenith is in Dubai for the first edition of LVMH Watch Week – Dubai 2020. Both glamorous and forward-thinking, Dubai is the perfect place to present an innovative collection of feminine watches. We are placing women’s watches at the forefront of the brand’s creative endeavors,” says Julien Tornare, Chief Executive Officer of Zenith.

For its first purely feminine watch, the DEFY Midnight, Zenith found inspiration in the infinite potential of the cosmos, creating a versatile sporty-chic timepiece. Housed in a 36 mm stainless steel case embellished with diamonds, the celestial dial of the DEFY Midnight elegantly embodies Zenith’s “Time to reach your star” philosophy.

Available in deep blue or grey colors, the dial features a glossy finish with a vertical gradient effect for an unprecedented depth. Portraying the night sky above the endless horizon, where the dark vastness of space gives way to the glimmer of starlight, the dial at once enchants and enlightens the wearer.

Evoking the Zenith starry sky, the brand’s faceted star emblem is the highest, brightest point in the depicted night sky. Completing the celestial landscape are stars of different sizes – some of which glow in the dark. A third dial made of white mother-pearl with a vertical gradient effect evokes moonlight on a cloudy night. White diamonds are applied on every hour marker, except at 3 o’clock where the date window is placed. Equipped with the automatic Elite in-house movement, the DEFY Midnight provides dependable precision and autonomy of 50 hours. A star-shaped oscillating weight brings a galactic element to the case-back view.

The DEFY Midnight features an assortment of bracelets and straps that can easily be swapped by the wearer, allowing the DEFY Midnight to adapt itself to different looks and situations. The integrated stainless steel bracelet, as well as a selection of colored satin and leather straps with rubber backing, can be swapped by means of a quick strap-change mechanism integrated directly onto the back of the straps, and requiring no tools or special skills for the owner to do on her own, be it for a change of seasons or just a change of outfit. Each

DEFY Midnight will come in a special box that includes 3 additional colored straps and an interchangeable folding clasp.

Zenith revisits its own past from the vantage point of today, with the newly revamped Elite collection of unisex watches. Sleeker, more minimalistic, yet strong in its graphic identity and confident in its timeless lines and proportions, the Elite collection doesn’t repeat the past, but rather rejuvenates the codes of mid-20th century watchmaking.

On the men’s side, Zenith took advantage of LVMH Watch Week – Dubai 2020 to announce its partnership with DJ and producer Carl Cox. A living legend in electronic music – especially techno – the artist inspired Zenith for the creation of the Zenith DEFY 21 Carl Cox. The futuristic timepiece has a carbon fiber bezel, a dial with a rotating disk shaped like a vinyl record as running seconds indicator, and strap stitching that glows in the dark.

While the new Zenith Elite collection and Defy Midnight caught the media attention with the elegant design, the most remarkable of the new models is the Zenith x Land Rover Defy 21, said monochrome-watches.com.

“First of all, it brings a rugged, yet minimalistic and monochromatic look to this usually quite bold model, with a completely grey colour scheme – for the ceramic case, the bezel and the rubber strap. Second, it features a closed dial to enhance its tool-watch nature,” commented monochrome-watches.com.

Zenith DEFY 21 Land Rover Edition watch is a rugged and stealthy reinterpretation of the 21st century Zenith El Primero high-frequency chronograph, embodying the resilient spirit of the new Land Rover Defender that combines the ultimate in ruggedness and comfort. A limited-edition of 250 pieces, it represents a complete makeover of the 1/100th of a second chronograph with a raw and minimalistic look. Crafted in microblasted titanium, the case absorbs light from allangles to better accentuate its faceted surfaces. Paired with a matching closed grey dial, the redesigned display features for the first time in a DEFY 21 a linear power reserve window, with the slightest touches of color for legibility. Gerry McGovern, Land Rover Chief Creative Officer, said: “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 the new Defender, this for me is the best timepiece we have created with Zenith”.

This week, Zenith also announced esteemed tennis coach, serial entrepreneur, and all-around game-changer Patrick Mouratoglou as the new Brand Ambassador of the luxury Maison.