This season’s Zenith Defy Extreme E limited edition watch was unveiled ahead of Extreme E’s Hydro X Prix, held in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. This watch is crafted entirely in carbon fibre, features Extreme E’s official Vital Green colour, and uses recycled and upcycled parts from the actual races incorporated in the strap and packaging.
Extreme E is an off-road racing series comprising ten races for all-electric performance cars. The ten races take place in five remote locations that are especially impacted by climate change. Each of the ten teams has one male and one female driver racing not just for trophies, but also to highlight global and environmental issues.
Commenting on the collaboration, Zenith CEO Julien Tornare said: “This is the third year that Extreme E has been championing the causes of sustainability and climate change awareness, which are central to Zenith’s Horiz-On CSR initiative.
“We’re honoured to be able to continue supporting Extreme E as we have from the very beginning, as we truly consider it to be the future of rally racing. The Defy Extreme E edition commemorates this with an all-carbon construction, a first for the Defy Extreme line. We’re thrilled to be able to launch it here in Scotland with our friends and partners.”
For the third Season of Extreme E, Zenith has created the lightest iteration of its 1/100th of a second chronograph to date by combining performance-centric materials with a high-frequency chronograph movement, while retaining its inherent toughness. Tried and tested in some of the most extreme conditions and environments that Extreme E has provided, the new Defy Extreme E is the first model in the collection to be crafted entirely in carbon fibre. This includes the pushers and their protective elements. As a result, the watch weighs only 96 grams, including the strap and triple-folding clasp – also in carbon fibre.
The watch has an open, multi-layered dial, consisting of tinted sapphire crystal elements and embellished with Vital Green colour accents. Partially visible through the open dial as well as the sapphire case back is the world’s fastest automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre in production. It offers 1/100th of a second time measurements by means of two independent escapements: beating at the rate of 5Hz (36’000 VpH) for the timekeeping part, and 50Hz (360’000 VpH) for the chronograph function.
The rubber strap is infused with materials from upcycled Continental CrossContact tires that were used in the first season’s races. Matching the Extreme E Vital Green accents on the dial, the Velcro strap features a black rubber central element surrounded by green cordura-effect rubber. The watch is delivered with two additional straps in black rubber and black Velcro. These can be easily swapped without any tools by using Zenith’s quick strap-change mechanism.
The Defy Extreme E edition is delivered in a suitably sturdy waterproof and crushproof watch case inspired by the extreme conditions of the rally. It incorporates various upcycled elements from the side-lines of the first Season’s races. The case’s lid coating is made from E-grip recycled tires, while the plate covering is made from parts of an Extreme E racing tarpaulin.
Made in a limited edition of 100 pieces, the Defy Extreme E edition is available exclusively at Zenith physical and online boutiques around the world.
