Zenith’s DEFY series of watches remains to be one of the most high-tech timepieces that you can buy today. They’re well-known for their supremely accurate movements, plus their 1/100th of a second chronograph. The latter is certainly something that you don’t see every day. It’s fitting then that a timekeeping system as advanced as the DEFY is the workhorse behind Extreme E.
Currently, Extreme E is running in its second season, and they’re starting off with a bang on the rocky island of Sardinia. For those who don’t know, Extreme E is an all-electric rallying series. If you need some hints, just think of them as the Dakar, but with Mad Max-style EV Baja trucks. Since Zenith is the official timekeeper of Extreme E, celebrating the occasion is in good order.
All The Carbon Fibre You Ever Need
Inspired by the racing series that it now supports, Zenith’s new DEFY Extreme E Island X Prix 1 – a pretty complicated name, I know – is just as nerdy as the cars that partake in Extreme E. Its case is made from carbon fiber, including even the crown and chronograph pushers. Then, this is paired with titanium and orange accents, evoking the Sardinian landscape in mid-summer.
Underneath though, it’s still the same DEFY that we know and love. In a nutshell, it’s powered by the fastest automatic movement ever, beating at a speedy 5Hz. This is necessary, as you’ll find it hard to measure time at 1/100th of a second without a high-frequency caliber. If that’s not fast enough, consider that the chronograph runs on separate 50Hz escapement.
