News: Zenith Unveils Defy Extreme E Island X Prix Special Edition
Zenith recently unveiled the second of its Defy Xtreme E Island X Prix special edition watches, launched to coincide with the Island X Prix in Sardinia, a motor-racing rally series held in remote environments and involving electric-powered vehicles.
Zenith is an official time keeper and founding partner of the series, which—jumping on the whole sustainability bandwagon—aims to raise awareness for climate change issues and showcase the performance and benefits of low carbon vehicles.
Unsurprisingly, to mark the event it’s brought out this sporty looking chronograph, complete with fiery orange accents on the multi-layered, open-worked dial that match a Velcro strap made from orange canvas and recycled tyres. It’s fairly safe to assume they are from recycled racing-car tyres, rather than something salvaged from an old Ford Fiesta at the local scrapyard…
Anyway, if it looks slightly familiar, that’s because it released an almost identical version of the watch back in February, the Defy Xtreme E Desert X Prix. That model marked the Saudi Arabian leg of this rally series and came with canary yellow accents and strap.
Like a few other watches in the Defy collection, the case—a bruiser at 45mm—is a geometric-looking affair made from carbon fibre, while the pusher protectors and twelve-sided bezel are made from micro-blasted titanium.
It runs on Zenith’s superb Caliber 9004 El Primero movement, capable of measuring time up to 1/100th of a second, and although this movement is visible through the exhibition caseback there is some Island X Prix branding on the sapphire glass to contend with, which slightly spoils the view of Zenith’s signature five-pointed star rotor.
At retail, this will set you back $27,100—which is still a great deal cheaper than any AP Royal Oak Offshore chronograph.
It’s limited to just 20 pieces worldwide.
Case | Carbon fibre
Dimensions | 45mm
Dial | Open-worked grey / orange
Crystal | Sapphire Crystal
Water Resistance | 200M
Movement | Zenith Caliber 9004 El Primero
Power Reserve | 50 Hours
Frequency | 36,000 vph
Strap | Recycled rubber and canvas
Functions | 1/100th of a second chronograph, power reserve indicator
RRP | $27,100
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