A horological exploration of the world of DJing, the Zenith Defy Extreme Carl Cox marks the second collaboration between the Swiss manufacture and the legendary DJ. Regarded as a pioneer in his field, Carl Cox is credited with elevating electronic music through both his unique sound and experiential approach to the craft.
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A follow up to the Defy 21 Carl Cox—crafted from carbon and presented on a bright red strap, it featured a small seconds subdial shaped like a vinyl record—released in 2020, the Zenith Defy Extreme Carl Cox turns up the volume. Continuing to focus on the world of electronic music, the newcomer is limited to 100 examples.
For their latest collaborative timepiece, Zenith and Carl Cox look to one of the most fundamental tools in a DJ’s career for inspiration: the turntable. Using the manufacture’s most rugged timepiece—the Defy Extreme—as a canvas, the duo look to three seminal turntables in Cox’s career. The Zenith Defy Extreme Carl Cox adopts a two-tone aesthetic, rendered in matte-finished stainless steel and yellow gold; a first for the Defy Extreme lineup.
The matte yellow gold accents on the signature dodecagonal bezel and pusher guards are inspired by the turntable stylus’ golden tonearm, while the dial plays host to three subdials which resemble miniature vinyl records, with with concentric grooves that capture and reflect light as if they were spinning. The minute tract is adorned with a pattern of perfectly aligned dots that nod to the stroboscope effect found on the sides of Cox’s favourite turntable. Closing the set is the power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock, which is fashioned like an on/off switch.
“I feel so honoured that Zenith have immortalised the three turntables that helped make my name within this watch,” says Carl Cox. “Beautifully done and with incredible attention to detail, the watch is a fitting tribute to something that has made dancefloors come to life all over the world from a brand that is known for its mastery of movement. They wanted to do something special and they couldn’t have done better! Oh Yes, Oh Yes!”
The beating heart of the timepiece is the in-house El Primero 9004 calibre, the only serially produced chronograph movements to offer a true 1/100th of a second time measurement. Visible through the sapphire glass caseback, it features a star-shaped oscillating weight and a mainplate finished in black, both unique to the limited-edition collaboration.
The Defy Extreme Carl Cox is presented on an integrated matte-finished steel bracelet and comes with two addition straps (black rubber and black velcro), which can be easily subbed in through the quick strap-change mechanism.
Limited to 100 examples, the Defy Extreme Carl Cox is priced at $45,500AUD and available through select Zenith boutiques from the 25th of September.
Words by Henry Blake
