Ahead of Extreme E’s Hydro X Prix in Scotland, Zenith unveiled this season’s Defy Extreme E limited edition watch, crafted entirely in carbon fibre and featuring Extreme E’s official “Vital Green” colour
For the third Season of Extreme E, Zenith has created the lightest iteration of its groundbreaking 1/100th of a second chronograph to date: The Defy Extreme E edition. Combining performance-centric materials and a high-frequency chronograph movement capable of accurately measuring elapsed time to an astounding level of precision, the timepiece has also been conceived around the values of sustainability shared by Extreme E and Zenith’s Horiz-On initiative of CSR objectives and commitments. It features brightly coloured accents in Extreme E’s signature “Vital Green” tone as a message of awareness and action on climate change, as well as recycled and upcycled parts from the actual races incorporated in the strap and packaging.
Zenith has made its most rugged 1/100th of a second chronograph even lighter while retaining its inherent toughness in the Defy Extreme E edition. Tried and tested in some of the most extreme conditions and environments that Extreme E has provided, the timepiece is the first model in the collection to be crafted entirely in lightweight yet tough carbon fibre – including the pushers and their protective elements. The watch weighs only 96 grams, including the strap and triple-folding clasp – also in carbon fibre.
The dashboard of this hardy chronograph is an open multi-layered dial, consisting of tinted sapphire crystal elements and embellished with Extreme E’s official “Vital Green” colour accents, a subtle reminder of the championship’s core value of sustainability. 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, offering 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 watch comes with a rubber strap infused with materials of upcycled Continental CrossContact tires used in the first season’s races. Matching the Extreme E Vital Green accents on the dial, the Velcro strap features black rubber surrounded by green cordura-effect rubber. It comes with two additional straps in black rubber and black Velcro, which can be easily swapped using the case back’s ingenious and intuitive quick strap-change mechanism.
The limited edition of 100 pieces is delivered in a suitably sturdy waterproof and crushproof watch case inspired by the extreme conditions of the rally, incorporating 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.
