LVMH Watch Week: Taking The Zenith DEFY 21 Land Rover Edition For A Drive
The Zenith DEFY 21 pays tribute to the legendary Land Rover Defender, celebrating design and performance.
By Josh Shanks
Contributor
Zenith first partnered with Land Rover back in 2016 with the unveiling of the Zenith El Primero Range Rover Special Edition that took subtle design elements from the car and incorporated them into a watch, much to the joy of both watch and car lovers. This was followed by the Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Range Rover Velar that was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show in 2017, and the Zenith DEFY Classic Skeleton Range Rover Edition unveiled in 2018.
At the end of last year, Land Rover unveiled its much-awaiting redesign of the iconic Defender, and today at the LVMH Watch Week in Dubai, Zenith presented its Zenith DEFY 21 Land Rover Edition, a watch that matches the rugged and stealthy nature of this famous all-terrain vehicle.
The Land Rover Defender
Redefining an icon such as the Land Rover Defender cannot have been an easy task with so many die-hard Defender lovers out there, but Land Rover has managed to take this emblematic vehicle and reimagine it in a contemporary way. The redesign keeps many of the past design codes, but modernizes them, and packs the car with a host of technical capabilities to make the off-road driving experience better than ever before.
The Zenith DEFY 21 Land Rover Edition
Like the Defender, the new Zenith DEFY 21 Land Rover Edition is also a reinterpretation. This new timepiece reimagines the El Primero high-frequency chronograph in a tough, yet stylish design for the present-day watch lover who appreciates function and design.
Continuing The Partnership
The Zenith DEFY 21 Land Rover Edition reinforces the collaboration between the two companies as Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s CEO, explained: “For the next chapter in our partnership with Zenith we wanted a timepiece that captured the essence of the new Land Rover Defender: modern, durable and highly desirable. With subtle details that capture the character of the new Defender, this for me is the best timepiece we have created with Zenith.”
All The Details
This new limited edition of 500 pieces represents a complete makeover of Zenith’s 1/100th of a second chronograph movement. There is now one escapement for the watch (beating at 5Hz) and another escapement for the chronograph (beating at 50 Hz) that allows the central seconds hand to make a tour of the dial in one second. A 100th of a second track on the inner flange records the precise elapsed time.
The 44mm case is made of a gray ceramic and is paired with a matte gray dial that features a new and discreet linear power reserve indicator just below the logo. The watch is available with a choice of a gray rubber strap or a “country” fabric-style strap.
There is no mention of Land Rover on the dial, so even if you don’t own the car, you can still enjoy the watch!
(Photography by Watchonista & Zenith)
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