SpotlightThree (Decks) Is Not A Crowd: Zenith Defy Extreme Chronograph Carl Cox
Zenith Defy Extreme Chronograph Carl Cox pays ode to longtime friend of the brand, renowned DJ Carl Cox, for his three-deck mixing innovation that redefined the EDM scene
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To truly admire the new Zenith Defy Extreme Chronograph Carl Cox 2023 edition, familarise yourself with the feat of three-deck mixing. Here, the DJ begins the set by mixing two turntables, one vocals soundtrack with beats, and just before the drop introduces a new soundtrack using a third deck (turntable). Very few DJs have mastered the mental focus to pull off this mashup—an invention by the legendary British house and techno club DJ, record label owner, and music producer, Carl Cox himself. It is why the 100-piece limited-run Zenith Defy Extreme 2023 edition features a miniature three-deck set—a trinity of sub-dials designed as tiny spinning vinyl records with concentric grooves—that Cox launched during his final London set of 2023 at the iconic Raffles nightclub in Chelsea.
Friend Of The Brand, Carl Cox
The 61-year-old Carl Cox is credited for redefining the EDM scene with experiments such as three-deck mixing. Monikered ‘King of Ibiza’ for completing a 15-year Ibiza residency (2001-16) at the iconic nightclub Space, Cox with his Carl Cox & Friends stage has performed at pioneering music festivals, such as Tomorrowland Ultra Music Festival, and The BPM Festival. The Zenith Defy Extreme Chronograph Carl Cox is the second Cox watch in collaboration with Zenith, created for their ‘friend of the brand’. The first iteration was the Defy 21 Carl Cox 2020 with glow-in-the-dark carbon bezel and just one rotating vinyl record sub-dial for the small seconds at nine o’clock. The 2023 Zenith Defy Extreme pays ode to Cox and his disc jockeying career by acknowledging their tools of trade. A total blingy steal, the 45mm case from matt-finished micro-blasted steel and yellow gold features matt yellow gold accents on the dodecagonal bezel. Two pusher guards on either side of the screwed-in crown remind of the defiant golden tonearm fitted to a turntable stylus.
As mentioned above, three black chronograph counters appear like vinyl records—a small seconds counter at nine o’clock, 60-second counter at six o’clock, and 30-minute counter at three o’clock. Structured like an on/off switch is the power reserve indicator—a semicircular feature located at 12 o’clock. Shadowing the outer minute track is a fat dotted band akin to the stroboscope effect displayed on the sides of Cox’s turntables. Matching the case are gold-plated, faceted watch hands and indexes. Their Super-LumiNova application improves legibility under poor lighting conditions. Carrying the Zenith ‘star’ emblem ably on its tall slim, golden frame is the central chronograph hand with red tip that makes one turn each second. Protecting the dial elements and helping offer improved water resistance of 200m—a jump from 100m guaranteed by the 2020 Cox model—is the antireflective flat sapphire crystal glass.
What makes the Defy Extreme series a pioneer in the gambit of chronograph watches is the El Primero 21 calibre that offers 1/100th-of-second time measurements, aided by the second escapement that is only for the chronograph function with a frequency of 3,60,000vph. Allowing partial visibility of the black star-shaped oscillating weight and mainplate of the El Primero 9004 calibre—‘the world’s fastest and only serially produced chronograph movement’, as claimed by Zenith—is the open-worked dial and sapphire crystal caseback.
The watch is equipped with two interchangeable straps: one midnight slate rubber strap with a micro-blasted steel folding clasp and one dark graphite strap with Velcro buckle
Carl Cox And Zenith
“I feel so honoured that Zenith have immortalised the three turntables that helped make my name within this watch,” expressed Cox at the press launch. “The watch is a fitting tribute to something that has made dance floors come to life all over the world from a brand that are known for their mastery of movement.” About their brand association, Zenith CEO Julien Tornare said, “Always cheerful, positive, and buzzing with energy, Carl Cox really inspires us and proves that if you’re passionate and driven by what you do, nothing is impossible. For our second watch created together, we really wanted to dive deeper into his rhythmic world and go back to his early days of DJing with analogue instruments. The result is Zenith’s most advanced chronograph reimagined by Carl Cox in a retro-futuristic and even minimalist way, and it’s truly special.”
For Cox, nothing seems impossible. Even a third Zenith Defy iteration. After all, the globally renowned DJ once said, “There’s still a lot more to come from me. There’s still a lot more water in the well.”
