Zenith and Felipe Pantone enter a new dimension of artistic contemporary watchmaking with a highly chromatic rendition of the Defy Extreme – a limited edition of 100
The inspiration for the Defy Extreme Felipe Pantone is Pantone’s “Planned Iridescence” series, where his bold use of colour is combined with metallic elements and mathematically conceived shapes and shaded to generate optical illusions that transcend the boundaries of the analogue and virtual worlds.
Crafted entirely in mirror-polished stainless steel, the faceted lines of the Defy Extreme case take on a new sculptural context. Incorporating transparency and colour where least expected, the dodecagonal bezel as well as the chronograph’s pusher protectors are crafted in translucent blue YAS (yttrium aluminosilicate), a crystalline glass material comparable to synthetic sapphire.
The four corners of the case are engraved with “FP#1”, a coded signature for “Felipe Pantone El Primero”. Matching the blue transparent elements of the case, the Defy Extreme Felipe Pantone comes with a translucent blue silicone strap. A fully polished steel bracelet as well as black Velcro strap are also included and can be easily swapped with the push of a button on the case back.
Looking down at the dial, its sapphire elements appear translucent and metallic. Turn it ever so slightly towards the light, and a spark of colours and geometric patterns emerge. Dynamic and metamorphic, the dial retains the highly chromatic look typical of Pantone’s work while incorporating elements that play with light in an unexpected way.
The hour and minute hands as well as the movement use the same vibrant three-dimensional PVD technique as was prominently featured in the Defy 21 Felipe Pantone’s movement, reflecting a perfectly transitioning metallic rainbow gradient. While this innovative process has been standardised, each set of hands will take on slightly different colours, making each watch unique. The chronograph’s minute counter features a graduated scale of colours, where each minute is segmented by a different tone. The chronograph’s second counter is done in very fine concentric black and white lines, mimicking the moiré effect.
The El Primero 1/100th of a second automatic high-frequency chronograph beating within has also received a makeover, with the open star-shaped oscillating weight matching the hands. El Primero 21 features an efficient construction of two independently driven regulating organs, beating at 50Hz and 5Hz for the chronograph function and timekeeping respectively.
The timepiece is delivered in an artbook-shaped box, designed by Pantone after his “Planned Iridescence” series, with the same iridescent effect as the watch’s dial. The finishing touch is a transparent plexiglass hardcover, making the box itself a work of art.
