Zenith continues to support the Extreme E electric rally race with a new 20 piece limited edition DEFY Extreme E Copper X Prix in carbon fibre and titanium with earthy tones and the El Primero 9004 movement.
Press Release information with commentary in italics.
New: Zenith DEFY Extreme E – Copper X Prix Edition
The retail price for the Zenith DEFY Extreme E – Copper X Prix Edition is SGD 39,700 inclusive of GST / CHF 26,900.
Commentary
The DEFY Extreme line extends once again with this new edition of the DEFY Extreme E – Copper X Prix Edition. The base watch – the DEFY Extreme Carbon was an impressive timepiece which we reviewed earlier this year. This is also the next version of the Zenith Defy Extreme E “Island X Prix” Edition we covered in July.
Zenith continues its sponsorship of the electric rally racing championships as Official Timekeeper of the X Prix events. As mentioned in our earlier commentary, the X Prix is an interesting choice as many other watch brands are lining up to be aligned with the giga-buck F1 and other conventional racing scenes while at the same time professing to be environmentally friendly.And here, Zenith has pushed forward on its second season with racing in sustainable power.
This novelty is for the South American leg of the race, held in the copper producing regions of the Atacama Desert in Chile. Aesthetically, the new DEFY Extreme E – Copper X Prix Edition is rather pleasing, though it follows the cues of the first two Extreme E releases in the design language. In the Copper X, the warm”copper” tones of the strap picks up nicely on the accents on the skeleton dial. The use of carbon with the signature mottled pattern in grey tones go very well with the titanium bits. Carbon is used in the case as well as the bezel insert, the pushers and the crown, while titanium is specified for the pusher guards and main body of the bezel.
The DEFY Extreme Carbon is claimed to be the world’s lightest and world’s most rugged 1/100th of a second automatic high frequency chronograph. The Caliber 9007 movement is not new. It is a revised version of the Caliber 9004, which released in the 2017 as the movement in the DEFY 21.
Though, now with three different limited edition releases for different legs (Desert, Island, and now Copper) of the X Prix races, we feel that this might be a commercial stretch which can be read as milking the cow. Presumably the Island and Desert X Prix Editions are now sold out, considering that these too was limited to 20 pieces.
In terms of pricing, Zenith is perhaps very fair in setting the list price, knowing full well that a 20 piece limited edition will sell out in no time. Especially given the current market conditions. The pricing has remained unchanged from the Desert through to Island and now Copper, though, compared to what in essence is the same watch as the DEFY 21 in the carbon case released in 2019, the pricing has seen a huge hike of some SGD 10k.
Release information
For this next race of the 2022 Extreme E championship, the teams are heading far off the beaten path to South America, a first for the electric rally racing championship. One of the world’s foremost copper mining areas and one that is incorporating an innovative and sustainable approach to its operations, the Atacama Desert, Chile, sets the stage for the unveiling of ZENITH’s third special edition watch commemorating an Extreme E race. The DEFY Extreme E Copper X Prix, a limited edition of 20 pieces, combines carbon fibre and titanium with earthy tones that recall the copper mines of the region, while incorporating recycled and upcycled elements from the championship.
Inspired by the world of extreme motorsports and conceived with ruggedness in mind, the DEFY Extreme E Copper X Prix is designed to take on the electric rally’s thrilling off-road courses in some of the world’s most remote environments. Based on the DEFY Extreme Carbon, the world’s lightest and most robust 1/100th of a second automatic high-frequency chronograph, the DEFY Extreme E “Copper X Prix” incorporates upcycled elements from the championship with the back-to-back races’ official colour of warm coppery-brown.
The DEFY Extreme E “Copper X Prix” edition is crafted in lightweight yet highly durable carbon fibre, including the crown and chronograph pushers. Emphasizing the boldly angular geometry of the case, the pusher protectors as well as the twelve-sided bezel are made in microblasted titanium.
The open multi-layered dial consists of tinted sapphire crystal elements, embellished with coppery-brown accents that evoke the dry, rocky terrain and copper mines of the Chilean desert. Partially visible through the dial as well as the sapphire case back is the fastest automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre in production, offering 1/100th of a second time measurements, with two escapements independently beating at 5Hz (36’000VpH) for the timekeeping part and 50Hz (360’000 VpH) for the chronograph function. The movement is also visible through the sapphire display back, emblazoned with the Copper X Prix logo.
Bringing sustainability and environmental awareness to the forefront of ZENITH and Extreme E’s partnership, the DEFY Extreme E “Copper X Prix” is delivered with a rubber strap infused with materials of upcycled Continental CrossContact tires that were used in the first season’s races. Matching the Copper X Prix copper- brown accents on the dial, the Velcro strap features a black rubber central element surrounded by a brown cordura-effect rubber inlay. The DEFY Extreme E “Copper X Prix” is delivered with two additional straps in black rubber and black Velcro, which can be easily swapped without any tools by using the case back’s ingenious and intuitive quick strap-change mechanism.
The DEFY Extreme E “Copper X Prix” comes packaged 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.
The DEFY Extreme E “Copper X Prix” will be made in a limited edition of only 20 pieces and will be available exclusively at ZENITH physical and online boutiques around the world.
Zenith DEFY Extreme E – Copper X Prix Edition Specifications
Reference: 10.9100.9004-5/27. I307
Key points: Extreme E Capsule collection. 1/100th of a second Chronograph movement. Exclusive dynamic signature of one rotation per second for the Chrono hand. 1 escapement for the Watch
(36,000 VpH – 5 Hz); 1 escapement for the Chronograph (360,000 VpH – 50
Hz). Certified Chronometer. Sapphire dial
Movement: El Primero 9004
Frequency 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)
Power reserve min. 50 hours
Functions: Hours and minutes in the centre. Small seconds at 9 o’clock. 1/100th of a second Chronograph: Central chronograph hand that makes one turn each second. 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock. 60-second counter at 6 o’clock. Chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock
Finishes: Black colored main plate on movement + Special black colored oscillating weight with satined finishings
Material: Carbon & Microblasted Titanium
Water resistance: 20 ATM
Case: 45mm. Transparent sapphire crystal caseback.
Dial: Tinted sapphire with three black-coloured counters
Hour markers: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1
Hands: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1 Bracelet & Buckle: Full Interchangeable strap system. Copper Recycled tires Velcro Strap and a 2nd strap included. Microblasted Titanium Triple folding clasp
