The Zenith Defy Extreme Desert is the primary particular version of this most excessive of mechanical chronographs, restricted as it’s to simply 50 items worldwide, and we would find yourself referring to it because the Falcon’s Eye. If that’s too literal, we’ve one other suggestion… Consider it or not, the desert theme has been approaching stronger and stronger with each passing yr, most likely since 2017. By means of pleased coincidence, the Zenith Defy Extreme Desert may effectively earn itself a spectacular moniker by rising proper now: the Arrakis.
Simply from the color scheme of the watch in its configuration with rubber interchangeable strap alone, the 45 mm Defy Extreme Desert appears the a part of a Dune watch. Now check out the face of the watch, framed as it’s with the geometric extra of the raised spherical bezel with a dodecagonal define. Whereas the Defy Extreme Desert shouldn’t be meant to reference a popular culture phenomenon, the hour markers and bezel design make this appear like a homage to Frank Herbert’s signature sand worms.
Our personal flights of fancy apart, the Zenith Defy Extreme Desert is tied in with unique panorama photographer Kourosh Keynejad. It’s a titanium boutique version that makes use of falcon’s eye gem stones for the aforementioned dodecagonal define and for the chronograph pushers. Given this quartz stone’s properties, meaning every of the 50 watches can be ever so barely totally different to 1 one other.
Different touches unique to this version are the tinted sapphire crystal dial with beige chronograph counters, reminding one continually that the El Primero 9004 dual-escapement automated calibre is preserving time right here. The precise environments referenced by the Defy Extreme Desert are the Nice Basin, Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts in North America. Keynejad captured his personal visions of those 4 deserts, and the ensuing pictures can be exhibited in a travelling exhibition this yr, beginning with FIAC in Paris earlier than shifting on to Dubai and Tokyo.
“The one true fixed in my subject is the solar. We use it to regulate the times, and watch it paint our world with mild. The weather and climate are at all times unpredictable, however the solar by no means fails to rise. It rises on time. It units on time. It’s by no means late. When Zenith approached me with the concept for a collaboration, I couldn’t have considered a greater match. Precision of time and lightweight are key to an incredible {photograph}. With optimum planning and the flawless engineering of Zenith watches, I by no means miss my second,” stated Keynejad about working with Zenith.
Additionally commenting on the partnership, Zenith CEO, Julien Tornare stated this: “I’ve been following Kourosh’s work for a while now and I’ve to say, I’m at all times blown away by the way in which he’s capable of transport us to those faraway, untouched areas and exhibiting us a aspect of nature that we by no means actually knew — or just ignored. The beauty of Kourosh is that by reaching his star, he’s additionally spreading consciousness concerning the environmental points and challenges that all of us should face collectively.”
In all different methods, the Defy Extreme Desert version is precisely the identical as different Defy Extreme chronograph fashions, a few of which we’ve coated right here.
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