Zenith Defy Extreme, reference number 87.9100.9004/03.I001 is a highly accurate over size sport’s watch that has been created with grade 5 titanium with 18kt rose gold elements.
The case measures 45mm x 15.4mm in thickness and 50.5mm from lug to lug. It’s a beefy timepiece but extremely light thanks to the titanium use on the case and bracelet. A big benefit of using Titanium on over stainless steel is that the material is hypoallergenic and a lot more scratch resistance.
This latest Defy Extreme model has quick release system for the integrated bracelet. The pushers for the quick release are located at the underside of the case. Another upgrade is the water resistance that has been increase to 200 meters.
Under the sapphire crystal is a skeletonized dial which includes applied 18KT rose gold hour indices and 18kt rose gold hands.
The dial also has 2 sub dials for the chronograph and a small seconds sub dial. At the 12 O’clock position is a power reserve indicator but this is for the chronograph since it runs on a separate escapement.
Last but not least is the central seconds hand which is used to measure the 1/100 of a seconds of this high frequency chronograph. Each full revolution of this hand represents just 1 second.
Under the hood is Zenith’s in house movement caliber 9004. This automatic movement is chronometer certified and consist of 2 escapement systems. The first one is for timekeeping and works at 5 hertz and the other escapement is for the incredible high frequency chronograph that works at an astonishing 50 hertz in order to offer 1/100th of a second chronograph function. This escapement is composed of conventional Swiss lever.
Caliber 9004 consists of 293 parts with 53 jewels and power reserve of 50 hours and the chronograph have a power reserve of about 50 minutes. The chronograph is not automatic so it needs to be winded by hand using the crown.
This is a chronograph that has a rich history going all the way back to 1969 and it has now evolved to this mastery piece.