Introducing Zenith Unveils the Defy Zero G Sapphire

Since its debut in the late 1960s, the Zenith Defy collection has embodied the Manufacture’s boldest spirit of innovation. Conceived as a line of watches that challenged conventions in design and engineering, the Defy quickly became known for its avant-garde shapes, robust construction, and pioneering mechanics. From early shock-resistant cases to the groundbreaking use of advanced materials and high-frequency calibres, the collection has always served as Zenith’s laboratory for the future of watchmaking. Today, that daring legacy continues with the Defy Zero G Sapphire, a watch that transforms the concept of gravity itself into a spectacle of transparency and precision.

The Defy Zero G represents one of Zenith’s most extraordinary achievements in mechanical innovation. First unveiled in 2008, it introduced the brand’s patented Gravity Control module, a miniature gyroscopic system that maintains the regulating organ in a constant horizontal position, neutralizing the effects of gravity on timekeeping accuracy. Drawing inspiration from the gimbal-mounted marine chronometers of the past, Zenith spent seven years developing and miniaturizing this complex mechanism into a wristwatch, a feat that remains unique in modern horology. The result is a movement that does not simply compensate for gravity but cancels its influence entirely.

To celebrate Zenith’s 160th anniversary, the Manufacture reveals two new sapphire editions of the Defy Zero G. The 46 mm case, offered in either blue-tinted or fully transparent sapphire, delivers a mesmerizing view of the intricate mechanics within. Crafted from blocks of sapphire, one of the hardest and most transparent materials known, the case features both front and back crystals and is water-resistant to 30 meters.

The openworked dial showcases a lapis lazuli sub-dial at 12 o’clock for hours and minutes, accompanied by a small seconds counter at 9 o’clock and a power reserve indicator at 3 o’clock. The natural stone’s deep blue hue, speckled with gold-toned pyrite, evokes a night sky shimmering with stars, ensuring that no two dials are ever alike. The rhodium-plated hands and faceted hour markers are treated with Super-LumiNova C1.

Powering the watch is the El Primero 8812S manual-winding calibre, an evolution of Zenith’s legendary high-frequency movement operating at 36,000 vph (5 Hz) and offering a 50-hour power reserve. The patented Gravity Control module at 6 o’clock rotates in real time to maintain perfect horizontal balance, ensuring consistent precision in any position. Beyond its functionality, the calibre is beautifully finished with blue and rhodium bridges and a silicon escapement wheel.

Each version is paired with a blue alligator leather strap lined with rubber for comfort and secured by a titanium folding clasp. The Defy Zero G Sapphire is offered in two limited editions of 10 pieces each, one in transparent sapphire and the other in blue sapphire. Both are priced at CHF 200,000, approximately equivalent to AED 917,000.

For more information, visit Zenith’s official website.