Swiss watchmaker Zenith has released a model saluting the new Land Rover Defender, the fourth watch it has delivered for the British off-road specialist since the two companies began collaborating in 2016.
But New Zealanders who have put their name down for the new-look 4×4 will have to move quickly if they want a watch to to go along with it – 250 timepieces only will be produced, each priced at around NZ$20,000 and sold through Zenith boutiques worldwide.
Like the previous three watches from the Land Rover-Zenith partnership, the Defy El Primero 21 offers buyers an automotive-influenced design.
It uses a 44-mm titanium case matched with a slate-grey dial. The sporty design is boosted by chronograph pushes and orange-accented crown.
Featured is a 1/100th second chronograph counter on its outer edges, a printed white minute ring just within it, and three subdials for running seconds, a 60-seconds counter, and a 30-minute counter at the 9, 6, and 3 o’clock positions.
Toward the top of the dial, beneath the Zenith logo, there’s a power reserve indicator, while sweeping over the face are two Super-LumiNova-tipped, skeletonised hands for the hour and minute, and a thin pointer for the 1/100th-second chronograph function.
Inside the new watch and visible via a sapphire caseback is the El Primero 9004 automatic movement, capable of a 50-hour power reserve and used in the other Defy El Primero 21 models.
The special-edition timepiece will be made available with a grey rubber “Adventure” strap and an additional canvas “Country” strap, both of which fasten to the wrist with a titanium double-folding buckle.
The new Defender is expected to be launched in New Zealand in May. Both short- and long-wheelbase models will be available, along with a choice of diesel and petrol engines. Prices start at around $90,000.