Zenith, one of the first names that comes to mind when it’s all about watches with chronograph function, is the guest of our Hands-On corner with the new Defy Zero G model that eliminates the negative effects of gravity over accuracy.
Zenith Defy Zero G, one of the novelties introduced by the famous brand during Baselworld 2018, also heralds the coming of a new technology that will change the course of traditional watchmaking with the gravity defying oscillator system.
After the introduction of the 1/100 seconds chronograph Defy El Primero 21 and the groundbreaking the most accurate mechanical watch ever made Defy Lab, Zenith showed up with another game changing novelty at this year’s Baselworld exhibition.
Let’s talk a few basic features before moving on to the cutting-edge technology movement of the new model. In the Zenith Defy Zero G Collection, two different case (and bracelet) materials are available as titanium and 18K pink gold. Both models are available with silicone lining blue alligator strap or metal bracelet in-line with the case material. The titanium case / titanium bracelet combination version we have here for review comes with the reference 95.9000.8812 / 78.M9000.
The model is offered in a matt titanium case measuring 44mm in diameter and 14.85mm in height. The case is equipped with double anti-reflective coating scratch resistant sapphire crystals on both sides and it is water resistant to 100 meters.
At the front side of the model that is designed in open-works concept we see the Gravity Control unit located at 6 o’clock. Time is displayed via a blue colored chapter at 12 o’clock in minutes and seconds. Small seconds sub counter is present at 10 o’clock while the power reserve indicator is placed vertically at 2 o’clock.
The model comes on a titanium bracelet that is secured with a Zenith signed folding clasp. The bracelet suits perfectly with the contemporary concept of the model with it’s matt dominated finish and crisp lines.
The Zenith Defy Zero G Collection is powered by the brand’s in-house movement Caliber Ref. El Primero 8812 S. Hand-wound movement beats at the frequency of 5Hz (36.000vph) which is more like signature feature for the brand and offers a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound. The movement consists of 324 individual parts (139 of them in the Gravity Control unit).
The Caliber Ref. El Primero 8812 S was inspired by the Marine Chronometer instruments that the brand designed and produced for a period. The Gravity Control Unit, which has been used in the Marine Chronometers in the ships that are constantly on the move horizontally and vertically, designed to eliminate the negative effects of gravity over accuracy with its gyroscopic ‘Gravity Control’ module by keeping the escapement in a horizontal position regardless of the position the watch.
Used on Marine Chronometer instruments, which is in continuous motion and continues to operate unaffected by the movements of horizontal and vertical axes of the ship on which it is located. The El Primero 8812 S has been redesigned for further miniaturization. In this way, it was ensured that the spouse was working in a horizontal axis, so that the negative effects of gravity on the timing accuracy were eliminated. The new ‘Gravity Control’ module has been redesigned and miniaturized exclusively for Caliber Ref. El Primero 8812 S.
The MSRP for the version subject to the review is CHF 109.890.
