In advance of this weekend’s ‘Hydro X Prix’ Extreme E race (13-14 May, on the former Glenmuckloch opencast coal mine site in Dumfries and Galloway), official timing partner Zenith has released this year’s Defy Extreme E limited edition watch.
Made completely of carbon fibre, the watch features the team’s official “Vital Green” shade and is the most lightweight version of the brand’s ground-breaking 1/100th of a second chronograph to date. Capable of precisely measuring elapsed time with an astounding level of accuracy, it combines performance-centric materials with a high-frequency chronograph movement.
The Defy Extreme E edition has been developed around the sustainability values shared by Extreme E and Zenith’s HORIZ-ON initiative of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals and commitments. As a statement of awareness and action on climate change, it has vibrant highlights in Extreme E’s distinctive green tone, as well as recycled and upcycled components from the real races incorporated into the strap and packaging.
Zenith’s CEO Julien Tornare, says of the new special edition “We’re honoured to be able to continue supporting Extreme E as we have from the very beginning, as we truly consider it to be the future of rally racing. The Defy Extreme E edition commemorates this with an all-carbon construction, a first for the line. We’re thrilled to be able to launch it here in Scotland with our friends and partners.”
The watch is the first model in the line-up to be totally made of lightweight yet durable carbon fibre, including the pushers and their protectors. It has been tried and tested in some of the harshest environments that Extreme E experiences. Despite its durability, the watch weighs a mere 96 grams.
The timepiece has an open multi-layered dial with tinted sapphire crystal and Extreme E’s official Vital Green colour accents, which serve as a subtly effective reminder of the championship’s primary concept of sustainability.
The world’s fastest automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre is partially visible through the open dial and sapphire caseback. The movement features two independent escapements beating at rates of 5Hz (36’000 VpH) for the timekeeping component and 50Hz (360’000 VpH) for the chronograph function.
The Defy Extreme E is equipped with a rubber strap made from recycled Continental CrossContact tyres that were utilised in the first season of competitions, emphasising the themes of circularity and sustainability. There is an additional Velcro strap with black rubber centre encircled by green cordura-effect rubber to match the green accents on the dial.
The straps can be switched quickly and easily without the use of any tools thanks to the clever and simple quick-change mechanism.
The Defy Extreme E edition is presented in a robust, waterproof and crushproof case that incorporates numerous upcycled components from the first season’s races. E-grip recycled tyres were used to create the case’s lid coating, and an Extreme E racing tarpaulin was used to make the plate covering.
The watch has been produced in a limited edition of 100 pieces, available at Zenith boutiques or online. It is priced at £26,600.
