Sometimes the most common colors can have a very powerful impact when used in a watch. This is most certainly the case with the two new Defy models that Zenith just introduced. Both the Defy Classic and the Defy 21 are made in black and white and look more expressive than ever.

The chronograph is among the most popular complications. Many of them have reached the status of being an icon, often for very different reasons. As there are so many chronographs to choose from, here is a short-list of four that any serious watch collector should consider adding to its collection.

Online brand boutiques are more and more, becoming a pillar of success to many brands. Especially the Covid-19 pandemic has magnified the benefits that they can reap from it, also because clients seem to be increasingly more comfortable to purchase their high-end timepieces online, directly from the brand. Zenith already had quite an extensive online boutique for the European market but is now expanding this, with the launch for the United States. To mark the occasion, they also introduce a new limited edition of the Defy with it.

Colors can do a lot to a watch. They can change its appearance from classical to daring, they can make it follow the trends, or stand out in the crowd. With the Defy 21 Ultraviolet, Zenith opted for the latter. Donned with vibrant violet-colored details, they explore the end of the color spectrum that is still visible. Violet is the highest frequency of color that the human eye can detect before turning into the invisible ultraviolet color. A perfect match for the highest-frequency chronograph watch in regular production.

The story is one of the true legends of the watch world; how Charles Vermot, watchmaker at Zenith, got in the 1970's the orders to destroy everything connected to the El Primero movement but instead hide everything away on the attic. While the management thought that quartz movements would soon be all there is, Vermot kept believing that there was a future in mechanical watchmaking and was proved to be right in the end. Today the El Primero is one of the most acclaimed chronograph movements and Zenith one of the highest stars in mechanical watchmaking. That attic turned out to be a real treasure trove. Next to everything they needed to start the production of the El Primero again also other things were uncovered such a stunning dial for the A386 El Primero. This dial is now featured in a special edition of the Chronomaster Revival "Manufacture Edition."

Brands are not only about the watches that they produce but also about the people behind them. From marketing specialists, boutique managers, and watchmakers, to the CEO, all leave their mark on the brand they work for. We had the opportunity to sit down with Julien Tornare, the energetic and down-to-earth CEO of Zenith, for who the watchmaking industry doesn't hold any secrets anymore. With him, we talked about building brands, and what makes Zenith so unique among its peers.

For Zenith, the LVMH Watch Week is all about reestablishing themselves firmly into the market for ladies' watches with the Defy Midnight. However, that is not all the news that they presented to us in Dubai, as many others, and equally exciting watches where shown.

Good design lasts forever. But great designs can lay the groundwork for a bevy of future reinterpretations—a handful of modifications here and there and you end up with a fresher take on the fundamentals.

It is still interesting to see that the development of certain mechanical complications doesn't stop. A great example of this is the chronograph, where brands continue to find new ways to take it to the next level. 2019 was a year in which chronographs broke records and celebrated anniversaries, as it has been 50 years since the very first automatic chronographs hit the market. So no wonder that 2019 was a great year for chronographs.

An auction house designing limited editions of one of the most iconic chronographs out there? That is precisely what Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo did earlier this year. This Zenith El Primero Ref.386 featured a dial made from Lapis Lazuli and will be the only El Primero Ref.386 ever to be made with a platinum case. It sold last weekend for CHF 250,000,- with the proceeds going to charity. After this watch, Zenith and Phillips have joined forces again for two more limited editions.

Some watches don't have to prove anything anymore. Their name is enough to gain a watch connoisseurs respect, and in rare cases, you don't even have to mention the exact model to achieve this. One of these watches is the Zenith El Primero. A watch that cannot only rely on a strong heritage but also kept its relevance because Zenith continued to invest in it. Today clients can still buy the pure El Primero with only a chronograph, but also far more complex varieties such as the Defy El Primero Double Tourbillon.

The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 is already an impressive watch, with its automatic 1/100th-second chronograph movement. However, when Grammy-award winning artists Swizz Beatz adds his style to it, it gets even better. For his creation, Swizz Beatz opted for a vibrant color combination of white and orange. On the Zenith, it works wonders because no corners are cut to bring them to life in nearly every aspect of the watch.

Black is a color that is nearly always appropriate to wear. Also in watchmaking does it have a dominant position, especially when it comes to dials and straps. Black cases were for a long time a rarity. At the beginning of the last century, some brands, like Cartier, for example, experimented with bakelite cases. These watches were scarce then, and even more so now. Later on, new technologies such as PVD-coatings made it that more watches with black cases entered the market. Today there are several materials which a brand can utilize to create a black watch case. Next to the traditional PVD-coating, are there now coatings made from 'Diamond-Like Carbon,' which are more resistant to wear. Next to coatings did also a whole new generation of materials emerged. Ceramic was one of the first to make its entrance, but now even carbon, in various forms, is being used to craft watch cases. Their popularity is increasing, and for a good reason, because no matter what black-colored material is selected, it often results in watches that are true dark delights!

Diamonds on men's watches; some people love them, others can't stand them. But even those who are counting themselves among the last category might be tempted to at least, adjust their opinion with the following four watches. They are either quite subtle or go all in, but all bring something very special to the table that makes them in one way or another too tempting to turn down.

2019 is a special year for quite a few brands, as it marks for them important events in their history. For some, it was the launch of an iconic model or important movement, while for others it was an event at which one of their watches became legendary. That makes it that these four brands have something to celebrate:

In the world of watches is the El Primero a legend. With its frequency of 5Hz, you can measure the passing of time with 1/10th of a second precision. While this movement is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the beauty is that Zenith never stopped with developing it. They not only added many complications over the years but also improved the movement itself. With the Defy El Primero 21, they fitted the movement with two escapements, one running at 5Hz and supporting the regular timekeeping of the watch, and one dedicated to the chronograph, running at 50Hz.