Zenith Defy El Primero Double Tourbillon Watch Two tourbillons, a 100-second chronograph and a bold, futuristic design.

High-frequency chronographs have long been part of the Zenith identity. It all started in 1969, when Zenith introduced one of the finest and most accurate chronograph movements ever created, the iconic El Primero. Fast forward to 2017, and Zenith introduced the Defy El Primero 21, an innovative chronograph with two regulators capable of measuring hundredths of a second. At Baselworld 2019, Zenith returned with an evolution of this watch, now equipped with two tourbillon regulators. Meet the technically impressive Zenith Defy El Primero Double Tourbillon.

The model we had a chance to get our hands on was limited edition in carbon fiber – and a 10-piece limited edition in platinum. Both versions are powered by the El primero caliber 9020, which consists of 311 components.

This automatic movement features an original double architecture. Most chronographs are based on a timing engine to which a dedicated timing device is engaged via a clutch. Here, the timing and timing mechanisms are completely independent and autonomous. Each of them has its own barrel, gear train and tourbillon regulator. Therefore, there is no interaction between the chronograph movement and the chronograph. Therefore, when the chronograph is started and its mechanism is engaged, the amplitude is not lost (the rate of the chronograph movement is not affected) and energy consumption is not disturbed.