What started in 2005 has grown to become one of the most epic biennial events in the world of watchmaking. As an initiative of Luc Pettavino, leading watch brands create every two years a piece unique, which they donate to Only Watch to help the fight against Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. These watches are auctioned, offering collectors a unique opportunity to obtain a very rare timepiece while supporting this amazing cause. This year the 9th edition is taking place, and no less than 53 lots will be auctioned. These are some of our favorites:

When you say Zenith to a watch enthusiast, he or she cannot help but immediately think of El Primero. This automatic chronograph movement was groundbreaking when launched in 1969, but as Zenith has continued developing it, it is still as enticing today. Because of that is has become one of the gold standards for chronograph movements. It was even for years good enough for Rolex to power its iconic Daytona before they developed a chronograph movement of its own. Earlier this year, Zenith launched the new Chronomaster Sport, a watch that seems to go head-to-head with exactly the Daytona. Until now, it was only available in stainless steel, but that changes with the launch of the pink gold model.

The day when we celebrate and pay tribute to the most important woman in our lives, the one that introduced us to the world, is around the corner. While many gifts come to mind, few are as appropriate as a watch, as this is a perfect reminder of all the special times we have shared, and are about to share, with here. Here are four of our personal favorites:

With the launch of the new Defy, Zenith is taking this collection into the extreme, and quite literally so. As founding partner and official timekeeper of Extreme E, they are sending their watches off the grid. This new and exciting off-road championship will challenge both the drivers as well as their machines but also adds something unique into the mix, as all the cars are electric.

After the Defy 21 Ultraviolet, which Zenith introduced last year, the brand is continuing its quest for vibrant colors with the new Defy 21 Ultrablue. This combines in an exciting way past and present, as blue also played an important role in the history of the El Primero. When launched in 1969, it was also this color that underscored how unique that watch was. When we fast forward to 2021, that hasn't changed a bit.

Can a watch be everything at the same time? Zenith is making a plausible case that it can, with the new Defy 21 Urban Jungle. For the brand, this model proves to be a versatile canvas that can be lavishly decorated with gemstones, like the previously released Pink Edition, or be down to earth like the Land Rover Limited Edition. Two things that even the more extreme watches in the collection share are their superb performance and strong Zenith-DNA.

Although digital, was this year's edition of the LVMH Watch Week quite the event. Hublot, Zenith, and Bulgari all showed that not even a pandemic could slow down their drive to innovate, as they presented their latest watches. While they all impressed, these are our haute highlights;

When you say Zenith, you say El Primero. While the brand is about so much more, this legendary automatic chronograph movement continues to shape Zenith. This is not at all a bad thing, as the brand is not stuck on replaying its greatest hits but rather lets the past inspire its future. This also becomes clear when looking at the new watches that Zenith introduced at the 2021 edition of LVMH's Watch Week;

The ongoing pandemic forced LVMH to change the format of their highly successful LVMH Watch week for 2021 to a digital one. At the start of it, Haute Time talked with Zenith CEO Julien Tornare about how the pandemic impacted business, teaming up with Aaron Rodgers, and, of course, the new watches the brand is launching;

It is not more than fitting that Zenith kicks off the new year by introducing another version of the Chronomaster Revival A385. By adding this final El Primero to the two that were launched previously, the line-up with which Zenith introduced this groundbreaking movement to the world in 1969 is complete. The most eye-catching detail of the Chronomaster Revival A385 is its gradient brown dial, which offers quite a contrast with the white subdials and date wheel. Style and legibility go therefore hand in hand in this faithful remake of the original.

Carbon is a material that has got increasingly more traction in the watch world, especially in recent years. While it is still not a common material, in part due to its specific production process, it offers significant advantages and adds a very distinct look to a watch. This is also the case with the recently introduced Defy Classic Carbon. One of the reasons that Zenith took this step was the lightness of carbon fiber. The Defy Classic Carbon, with an integrated carbon fiber bracelet, weighs a mere 65 grams. This is already half the weight of the same Defy made from titanium, another material known for being relatively light.

Especially in watchmaking, details make a difference. Zenith is a brand that has always had a great understanding of this, which they also underscore with the new Chronomaster Revival Liberty. This watch is exclusive to the North American market, and Zenith will only make 150 pieces of them.

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.