The Concept enters Production
Not one to exalt past traditions, the Zenith Defy Inventor re-introduces the Zenith Oscillator as a production series component. First displayed as a concept in 2017, this precision-engineered monocrystalline silicon element is just 0.5mm thick and replaces 30 or so components of the centuries-old sprung balance system.
Designed to exploit silicon’s spring-like properties, its anti-magnetic nature and high tolerances to temperate fluctuations, this wristwatch also features a never-seen-before escape wheel made of flexible blades. All of this contributes to a high-beat rate of 18Hz that imparts a particularly smooth sweep to the seconds hand. And its lubricant-free nature reduces the need for servicing; not to mention the watch’s a minimum 50-hour power reserve.
But the marvels don’t end there. The Defy Inventor’s 44mm case is fashion out of titanium with a textured Aeronith bezel. This advanced material is an open-pore aluminium foam stiffened with a polymer, resulting in a composite that’s three times lighter than titanium. This exceptional and disruptive piece of technology is a powerful statement of capability from the award-winning Swiss luxury manufacturer.
