2021 has been the year of coloured timepieces, with many brands getting behind this latest trend to release some quirky yet beautiful watches. Zenith has been no different. With their release of the Ultraviolet Defy 21 being a huge hit, they recently also unveiled the Defy 21 in UltraBlue, which Watchadvice was fortunate enough to get for full review (see link here for full review).
Zenith however has now taken an unexpected turn in their DEFY 21 Spectrum series, by having striking colours everywhere except for on the dial. Through the use of precious stones and their natural brilliance, the DEFy 21 Spectrum gives a new take on vivid, kinetic vibrancy.
This DEFY 21 series was named Spectrum, after the range of colours that are produced by the different wavelengths of visible light. Zenith has introduced five incredibly stunning new pieces into this Spectrum Series. Each of the five models has their own unique take on the different frequencies of visible light.
Design:
Besides the colour variations throughout the five models, they all share the same characteristics. All five models come in a 44mm stainless steel case set with 288 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds. The dial is open-worked and features two different coloured counters, with each colour being different for the five models. The hour markers and hands are Rhodium-plated, faceted, and have been coated with Superluminova SLN C1.
32.9009.9004/09.R921 Spinel 
32.9006.9004/06.R918 Blue Sapphires 
32.9008.9004/08.R943 Tsavorite 
32.9007.9004/07.R922 Amethyst
32.9005.9004/05.R944 Orange Sapphires
Where each model differs, is of course the different colours used. Each of the five models features 44 baguette-cut precious stones, which match the colour of the watch (including movement and straps). The five colours and sapphires used in the Spectrum series include orange (orange sapphire), blue (blue sapphire), ultraviolet (Amethyst type sapphire), green (Tsavorite type sapphire), and black (Spinal type sapphire). The colours are prominent on the main plate of the movement, the oscillating weight with satined finishings on the case back, and as mentioned previously the 44 VVS baguette-cut sapphires on the bezel.
Movement:
The movement used in all five of these watches is Zenith’s own El Primero 21. This is as we know Zenith’s revolutionary 1/100th of second chronograph calibre, which has an incredible frequency of 50Hz (360, 000 VpH). The El Primero 21 is easily the world’s fastest chronograph that’s in production, and currently, the only movement that’s able to accurately measure and also be able to read the 1/100th of a second time measurements display. The movement gives out a minimum power reserve of approximately 50 hours.
Each of the five watches comes with its own black rubber with colour matching (to the dial/sapphires) “Cordura effect” rubber strap. With each of the straps matching the different dial colours, they certainly bring the watch more to life and stand out, if it wasn’t already.
Creating such watches as this DEFY 21 Spectrum Series is certainly no easy feat. It requires both advanced watchmaking along with traditional gem-setting skills which require the painstaking method of picking the stones of the same size, colour, and VVS quality, then intricately placing them into the metal by hand. Each of the five models in the DEfy 21 Spectrum Series is limited to 10 pieces and is exclusively available at Zenith boutiques worldwide.
