Zenith Travels To The End Of The Color Spectrum With The Defy 21 Ultraviolet

Zenith Travels To The End Of The Color Spectrum With The Defy 21 Ultraviolet

Martin Green
By Martin Green June 1, 2020

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.

Zenith_Defy21_Ultraviolet_05

With such a bold color as violet, it can very easily overtake the entire watch. Zenith knows how to balance this. They have only given the bridges at the front of the watch, visible through the skeletonized dial, a violet color. By doing that, they form a distinct backdrop for the three subdials, but don’t take over the entire dial. Even in combination with the strap, which is also violet of color, it doesn’t overpower. The case made of sandblasted titanium helps in this matter, as they give the watch a technical look. Because of this, the watch is neither very feminine nor masculine and can easily be worn by both sexes.

DEFY ULTRAVIOLET - BACK

At the back of the Defy 21 Ultraviolet does Zenith go all in, by coloring not only again some movement parts in violet, but also the oscillating weight. Because there is an unobstructed view, the color is very prominent and very captivating. It just demands your attention, and because it is at the back of the watch, it is either a private pleasure or something to show to your friends. They are probably also very interested in seeing the other features of caliber El Primero 9004 that powers this Defy 21. While one escapement is dedicated to this watch’s time-keeping capabilities, the other is solely for the chronograph function. Running at the incredible frequency of 360,000 vph, or 50 Hz allows for the centrally mounted second hand to measure the passing of time with a precision of 1/100th of a second. With its daring color is the Defy 21 Ultraviolet not a watch for everybody, but Zenith never intended it to be like that anyway. It is a watch for those who like to stand out by enjoying their high-frequency mechanical chronograph, in an equally high-frequency color.