In making the Land Rover edition, Zenith took a more conservative route with the dial and case that honors the functional British design of the Defender.

In standard production form, the Defy 21 features a nearly entirely open worked dial, revealing a chaotic scene within the movement, which houses a true 1/100th of a second chronograph complication. Likewise, the Zenith Defy 21 is a remarkable bit of watch making that builds on a template set forth in 1969 with the original El Primero, but there is no mistaking the new watch for anything resembling an homage.

The new Land Rover Defender is 4 available configurations The back end is still squared off, and the powertrain is still capable as ever, but this is no throwback by any stretch. For 2020, Land Rover has given the Defender new life as a thoroughly modern SUV, including amenities that OG D90 and D110 owners wouldn’t have dreamed of (nor welcomed, most likely). It’s squared off, boxy body became synonymous with ruggedness over its lifespan thanks to pairing capable (if not always dependable) powertrains with minimal interior fuss the Defender is a testament to function over form everywhere you look. The Land Rover Defender is famous for (among other things) just how little it has actually changed since being introduced in 1983 (or further, if you count the Series I, II, and III). It’s only fitting then, that Zenith was tasked with designing a Defy 21 to celebrate the new Defender, as each looks to build new chapters atop their illustrious past without losing too much soul in the process.

This dichotomy parallels a similar journey happening at Land Rover in their task of bringing the Defender into the 21st century with an all new generation for MY2020. Sure, it doesn’t have the charm you’ll find in something like the A386, but it pushes the architecture into a new direction and appeals to a new generation of enthusiasts in the process. The Zenith Defy 21 represents a high performance, modern take on the cherished El Primero movement.

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