Defy Lab

CASE : Aeronith, water-resistant to 50m, glareproofed sapphire crystal, sapphire back

SIZE : 44mm, 8.3mm thick

MOVEMENT : mechanical self-winding, Caliber ZO 342, 60h power reserve, 108,000 vph, monolithic silicon Zenith oscillator

FUNCTIONS : central hours, minutes and seconds

DIAL : openworked, facetted rhodium-plated and varnish-coated hands and hour-markers

STRAP : rubber coated with alligator leather, titanium double folding clasp

10-PIECE LIMITED EDITION

 The Defy Lab unveiled by Zenith in September 2017 is doubly innovative. Firstly, it challenges 342 years of horological tradition by replacing the traditional principle of balance & hairspring regulation – developed by Huygens in 1675 and used ever since in mechanical watches – with an oscillator delivering stunning performance. Made all of a piece from silicon and measuring just 0.5mm thick, the Zenith oscillator beats at a rate of 108,000 vph (15Hz) and guarantees the Defy Lab a mean daily precision of 0.3 seconds, thus enabling Zenith to introduce it as the world’s most accurate mechanical watch. The oscillator draws all eyes to the heart of the openworked Defy Lab dial, but the second novel feature of this watch also attracts attention : the case made of Aeronith. This new hybrid, ultra-light yet extremely sturdy material is an aluminum composite with an extremely modern pointillisttype appearance. Initially issued in an entirely pre-sold 10-piece edition, the Defy Lab will subsequently go into serial production.