In living colour

COLOURS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK in luxury timepieces. But instead of laying it on with bright coloured dials, Zenith's new Defy 21 Spectrum takes the radical approach of incorporating different hues everywhere except the dial.

Even the inner mechanisms get a splash of colour, like the impressive El Primero 21 movement – Zenith's revolutionary 1/100the of a second chronograph calibre that beats at the astonishing rate of 50 hertz.

Indeed, the five watches in the new Defy Spectrum collection – limited to 10 pieces each – are among the fastest chronographs in production, capable of measuring accurately and displaying clearly 1/100th of a second time keeping.

The Spectrum timepieces come in five colours of the different frequencies of visible light, with matching coloured baguette-cut stones: green tsavorite, orange sapphire, blue sapphire, amethyst and black spinel. The 44 mm wide stainless steel case is set with 288 brilliant-cut white diamonds. Price: S$54,100.

Zenith's 1/100th of a second chronograph movement also found expression in the brand's new Defy Extreme, which boasts a larger 45 mm case, "sharper lines, more pronounced edges and an overall silhouette that exudes robustness, resilience and a penchant for exploring new horizons". The design is reinforced with components protecting the pushers and screwdown crown.

Water-resistant to a depth of 200 metres, the new Defy Extreme is offered in matte titanium, matte titanium and rose gold, as well as titanium with blue accents.

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Despite its futuristic profile, the Defy Extreme also carries some of the distinctive features of the Defy models of the 1960s, like the A3642 with its angular case and faceted bezel. Price: S$26,300 (titanium and titanium with blue accents), S$32,100 (titanium and rose gold) Zenith has also unveiled "Zenith Icons", a concept which offers collectors the chance to acquire a curated selection of iconic and highlysought- after vintage Zenith watches. These timepieces, restored by Zenith, will be available at Zenith boutiques around the world.

Its Ginza boutique will be the first in October 2020, followed by Shanghai, which will focus on some of the earliest and most iconic El Primero references from 1969 to 1972, including the A384.

The A384 first appeared in 1969 as the face of the El Primero, with its distinctive "square barrel" case signed with the Zenith 4-pointed star logo as well as its "panda" dial. The A384 has a case that has gained vintage appeal with age, which makes it all the more desirable.