The 2022 Extreme E Championship kicked off back in February for its first leg in Saudia Arabia, and with it, Zenith unveiled its first special-edition version of the DEFY Extreme chronograph, which featured upcycled materials. The DEFY Extreme “Desert X Prix” chronograph used recycled car tires in its strap and sported yellow accents in honor of the race’s official color.
Now, as the second leg of the 2022 Extreme E season begins in Sardinia, Italy this week, the Swiss watchmaker readies yet another DEFY Extreme E edition. This time, the “Island X Prix” sports orange accents to represent the official color of the two-part electric rally race, which will ultimately conclude on July 10. Already based on the DEFY Extreme Carbon, the world’s lightest automatic chronograph, the DEFY Extreme E editions utilize the same carbon fiber for the case, crown, and pushers, while the pusher protectors and the dodecagonal bezel are made from micro-blasted titanium.
The multi-layered dial sports an interesting plane for its trio of subdials, as well as a partially-exposed movement. Moving the chronograph hand 100 times per second, the El Primero 9004 automatic caliber is the fastest automatic chronograph being produced, with the centrally-mounted chronograph hand whipping around the dial once per second. The impressive mechanics are exposed through the sapphire caseback as well, which features the Island X Prix logo in orange. The upcycled Velcro strap, made from used Continental CrossContact tires from the 2021 season, is executed in orange and black. Adding to the piece’s upcycled nature, the case’s lid coating and plate covering are also constructed using past car parts.
Limited to just 20 pieces, the DEFY Extreme E “Island X Prix” Edition is now available via Zenith’s online store for $27,100.
