ZENITH DEFY Extreme: Lapis Lazuli II And Ultraviolet Push High-Frequency Chronographs Into New Territory

Two radical interpretations of the DEFY Extreme, each built around the El Primero 9004 and the 1/100th-of-a-second chronograph.

The ZENITH DEFY Extreme was conceived as the most radical expression of the El Primero chronograph. Built around high-frequency precision and uncompromising performance, its dual-escapement architecture remains the only mechanical chronograph in regular production capable of measuring elapsed time to 1/100th of a second.

With the DEFY Extreme Lapis Lazuli II and the DEFY Extreme Ultraviolet, ZENITH continues exploring the tension between technical materials, colour and performance. Both watches use the sharp, architectural language of the DEFY Extreme, but each takes it in a distinct direction: one grounded in the contrast between natural stone and forged carbon, the other defined by violet transparency and a more spectral material palette.

ZENITH DEFY Extreme Lapis Lazuli II

The DEFY Extreme Lapis Lazuli II follows the first Lapis Lazuli edition unveiled in steel and yellow gold, but reinterprets the concept through an entirely different material approach. Limited to 25 pieces, this version replaces metallic reflections with the deep matte texture of forged carbon, creating a sharper and more technical expression of the original idea.

The contrast remains central to the design. The vivid blue intensity of lapis lazuli stands against the dark irregular surfaces of carbon and titanium, bringing together two materials that could not be more different in origin or appearance: one natural and almost cosmic, the other engineered for performance and resistance.

The 45 mm case combines carbon and titanium elements, pairing lightweight construction with high structural resistance. Its matte, textured surfaces absorb light rather than reflect it, reinforcing the graphic geometry of the case and giving the watch a stealth-like presence on the wrist.

Set within the openworked architecture of the dial, the lapis lazuli counters add depth, colour and unpredictability. Natural pyrite inclusions embedded within the stone catch the light differently from every angle, creating subtle golden reflections against the darker construction of the watch. Yellow gold-plated applied indexes and Super-LumiNova ensure legibility without disrupting the overall visual balance.

The display is organised around central hours and minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, a 60-second counter at 6 o’clock and a chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock. At the centre, the chronograph hand completes one full rotation every second, transforming the 1/100th-of-a-second indication into something both visible and instinctively readable.

Inside beats the El Primero 9004 calibre, developed around two independent escapements. One operates at 5 Hz (36,000 vph) for standard timekeeping, while the second beats at 50 Hz (360,000 vph) exclusively for the chronograph. This construction allows the movement to measure elapsed time to 1/100th of a second while maintaining a 50-hour power reserve for the timekeeping module and 50 minutes for the chronograph function.

Through the sapphire caseback, the star-shaped oscillating weight appears in a satin-brushed finish. The watch is delivered with both a black rubber strap with folding clasp and a black high-performance Velcro strap, which can be exchanged through the integrated DEFY Extreme strap system.

The DEFY Extreme Lapis Lazuli II is available now through ZENITH boutiques, online and authorized retailers worldwide. It is priced at 32,900 CHF, 36,800 EUR or 37,100 USD.

Technical Specifications

ZENITH DEFY Extreme Ultraviolet

The DEFY Extreme Ultraviolet takes its name from one of the most intense regions of the light spectrum, a fitting reference for a watch that pushes mechanical precision far beyond conventional limits. As with the Lapis Lazuli II, the central idea is contrast, but here the contrast is expressed through light, transparency and a violet-toned material palette.

This watch revisits a colour and material language first explored in the DEFY 21 Ultraviolet from 2020. That earlier model introduced a violet-toned movement in a matte sandblasted titanium case. The new DEFY Extreme Ultraviolet reinterprets that identity through the sharper, more architectural silhouette of the DEFY Extreme.

Its 45 mm case is crafted entirely from matte microblasted titanium, creating a dark, almost reflectionless appearance that reinforces the graphic geometry of the watch. Titanium also gives the model an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, keeping it remarkably light and comfortable on the wrist while remaining highly resistant and hypoallergenic.

The DEFY Extreme Ultraviolet combines violet-tinted sapphire elements with matching violet subdials arranged in a layered geometric construction. Transparency becomes part of the design language, revealing the movement architecture beneath and giving the watch a strong sense of depth.

The display mirrors the structure of the Lapis Lazuli II: central hours and minutes, small seconds at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock, a 60-second counter at 6 o’clock and a chronograph power-reserve indication at 12 o’clock. The central chronograph hand again completes one full rotation every second, enabling precise measurement to 1/100th of a second.

This performance is made possible by the dual-escapement El Primero 9004 calibre. One escapement runs at 5 Hz for timekeeping, while the second operates at 50 Hz for the chronograph, allowing the hand to move with extraordinary speed and making 1/100th-of-a-second timing fully visible and immediately readable.

On the reverse side, ZENITH’s star-shaped oscillating weight is rendered in violet, extending the colour concept through the movement. The watch is delivered on a violet rubber strap with folding clasp and comes with two additional options: a microblasted titanium bracelet and a black high-performance Velcro strap.

The DEFY Extreme Ultraviolet is available now through ZENITH boutiques, online and authorized retailers worldwide. It is priced at 17,900 CHF, 20,200 EUR or 20,100 USD.

A Shared Extreme Platform

Both watches are built on the same fundamental DEFY Extreme architecture. They share the 45 mm case format, the 1/100th-of-a-second chronograph display, the El Primero 9004 calibre and the interchangeable strap system integrated into the case back.

What separates them is the material language. The Lapis Lazuli II uses forged carbon, titanium and natural stone to create a darker and more tactile contrast, while the Ultraviolet uses microblasted titanium and violet sapphire to produce a lighter, more spectral aesthetic. Together, they show how the DEFY Extreme can move between raw materiality and visual transparency without losing its identity.

These are not decorative variations. They are technical chronographs designed to express two different readings of high-frequency watchmaking: one grounded and mineral, the other luminous and architectural.

Technical Specifications

Conclusion

With the DEFY Extreme Lapis Lazuli II and the DEFY Extreme Ultraviolet, ZENITH extends one of its boldest chronograph platforms into two sharply defined directions. Both watches preserve the radical performance of the El Primero 9004 while using material contrast to create distinct visual identities.

The result is a pair of watches that feel unmistakably DEFY Extreme: technical, expressive and built around one of the most fascinating chronograph constructions in modern watchmaking.

For more information, please visit the official ZENITH website.

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