Introducing Zenith in Collaboration with USM Unveils the DEFY Chronograph USM Collection

Since it first debuted in 1969, the Zenith Defy collection has served as a testbed for the brand’s most daring innovations. It introduced one of the first shock-resistant automatic watches of its time and helped redefine the aesthetics of sports timepieces with its sharp, angular case design. Over the decades, DEFY has evolved into a platform for technical advancement, including high-frequency chronometry, skeletonized movements, and experimental materials, positioning it as ZENITH’s most forward-looking collection.

Today, ZENITH unveils the latest chapter in the DEFY legacy, an "exclusive capsule collection" developed in collaboration with USM Modular Furniture, another pillar of Swiss design heritage. This striking new release marks a significant milestone for the DEFY line, as it introduces a chronograph version of the original DEFY model for the very first time, "DEFY Chronograph USM".

More than a watch launch, this collaboration represents a creative dialogue between two Swiss icons who helped shape the design language of the 1960s.

The watch comes in a stainless steel case measuring 37.3 mm in diameter, combining compact dimensions with a distinctive presence. Its octagonal shape is framed by a bold 14-sided bezel, echoing the geometric precision found in both ZENITH's historical designs and USM's architectural language.

Classic pump-style chronograph pushers at 2 and 4 o’clock, along with a screw-down crown, ensure water resistance up to 100 meters. The dial is protected by a domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal, while the caseback, also crafted from sapphire crystal offers an unobstructed view of the mechanical movement within, highlighting the watch’s technical refinement from both sides.

The dial is offered in four vibrant USM signature colors Green, Pure Orange, Golden Yellow, and Gentian Blue each reflecting the brand’s bold design heritage. Applied square hour markers with horizontal grooves add depth and texture, while the three overlapping chronograph counters are rendered in silver with a fine concentric azuré finish, subtly referencing USM’s iconic chrome ball joints.

The sub-dial layout includes a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, and a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, all centered around a sweeping central chronograph hand. The chronograph second hand is tipped with a miniature USM Haller ball, filled with Super-LumiNova; when activated, it reveals the ZENITH star, a thoughtful fusion of the two brands' visual identities.

A discreet date window sits at 4:30, and the peripheral minute track is printed in white on the blue and green dials, and in black on the orange and yellow versions, ensuring clear legibility across all variants.

The watch is powered by the El Primero 400 automatic chronograph movement, a direct descendant of the legendary El Primero 3019 PHC, the world’s first high-frequency automatic chronograph introduced by ZENITH in 1969. Operating at a frequency of 36,000 vph (5 Hz), the movement features a column-wheel chronograph mechanism along with a silicon escape wheel and lever for enhanced precision and durability, and it offers a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. Visible through the sapphire caseback, the rotor is decorated with an openworked ZENITH star motif and flanked by the ZENITH El Primero and USM logos a subtle yet meaningful tribute to this unique collaboration.

Each watch is fitted with ZENITH’s iconic “ladder” stainless steel bracelet, originally designed in 1969 by the renowned Gay Frères company exclusively for the brand. Lightweight, open, and instantly recognizable, the bracelet adds a vintage touch that complements the DEFY’s bold modernity. This capsule collection is produced in a limited edition of just 60 pieces per color, with each timepiece priced at CHF 10,900 approximately equivalent to AED 50,000.

For more information, you can visit Zenith’s official website.