One in every of my favourite pastimes inside the world of watch enthusiasm is to inform anybody who will pay attention that the “Leopard” Rolex Daytona is my favorite version of the storied chronograph. When the Daytona comes up in dialog (and it does, so much) I’m at all times able to share that the intricate gem and diamond set model impressed by leopard prints and favored by Nicolas Cage is my favourite instance. This assertion is barely half a joke – I actually do admire craftsmanship inherent in these watches (which is considerably unusual for Rolex) however largely I like that the watch exists as a transgressive various to the norm. And what higher manner to try this than with a watch impressed by massive cats and the jungle? The brand new Zenith Defy Excessive Jungle, a watch which instantly made me consider my favourite Daytona, is aware of that there’s, in truth, no higher approach to gently push on the expectations of the standard watch fanatic.
There’s an necessary distinction to be made between this new watch from Zenith and the Daytona, and that’s that the Leopard Daytona is, in each manner, an outlier within the Daytona assortment and for Rolex as a complete. The Zenith Defy Excessive, and the Defy line extra usually, are made up nearly totally of outliers. In different phrases, it’s not really that unusual to see a jungle impressed Defy Excessive once we’ve already seen high concept Defys taking on various themes over the course of many years. This isn’t even the primary time Zenith has performed with the “jungle” theme – you would possibly keep in mind the Defy 21 “Urban Jungle” with a green ceramic case that was launched in early 2021. Like I stated: a loopy Defy is admittedly only a Defy.
That stated, the Defy Excessive Jungle reaches a degree of opulence that almost all Defys don’t, and that’s value analyzing. Whereas it’s constructed on the body of Zenith’s most rugged sports activities watch within the Defy Excessive (together with a giant 45mm brushed titanium case), there are many little particulars giving this watch its distinctive character, and they’re all executed in a notably luxurious and elevated manner. The bezel and pushers, as an illustration, are inlaid with Tiger’s Eye, and supply a pure complement to the chronograph registers which have been given a tiger stripe accent.
Like most different watches within the Defy Excessive assortment, this one incorporates a skeletonized dial of types so as to add a way of depth and to indicate off the El Primero 9004 caliber. Right here, the dial is inexperienced tinted sapphire, which enhances each the Tiger’s Eye accents on the case and the tiger stripe counters properly. The 9004 caliber seen beneath the inexperienced tinted dial is the undisputed star of the present, nevertheless. In line with Zenith, it’s nonetheless the world’s quickest computerized chronograph, able to timing occasions to the 1/a centesimal of a second. When actuated, the chronograph seconds hand makes a full rotation across the dial as soon as per second. Whereas I believe most human beings don’t possess the nice motor abilities essential to take full benefit of this caliber’s key characteristic, it makes for a visible spectacle that’s hardly ever replicated, and is likely to be sufficient for some to purchase into the thought of the Defy Excessive.
The brand new Defy Excessive Jungle has a retail worth of $26,900 is a restricted version of simply 50 items. Will certainly one of them go to Nicolas Cage? Time, maybe, will inform. Zenith
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