Legendary DJ Carl Cox tells StarChrono about his serendipitous team-up with the watch manufacturer.
Amazing things happen when worlds collide, and the new Zenith Defy Extreme Carl Cox limited edition is a prime example.
The statement-making watch fuses Swiss precision and craftsmanship with the exuberant spirit of club DJ’ing to give timekeeping a distinctly different beat.
Limited to only 100 pieces, it was unveiled to a capacity crowd at the iconic Raffles nightclub in Chelsea, London, in late September.
The timepiece’s namesake -- legendary British DJ and producer Carl Cox -- delighted those present with a special set.
The Defy Extreme Carl Cox is a second act to the Defy 21 Carl Cox edition released in 2020. That successful collaboration set the dials in motion for another team-up.
And this time, they raised the volume a few notches with an ingenious melding of the seemingly disparate worlds of horology and music.
Cox wearing the watch that bears his name.
“All creative industries are driven by passion. The craftsmen at Zenith put as much care and attention into what they do, as a skilled musician or artiste would in their performances,” says Cox.
There is an element of serendipity to the partnership.
The pioneer of electronic music happened to meet the watchmaker’s officials at a dinner and the conversation turned to music and movement.
“It allowed me to understand the complex process of crafting luxury timepieces a lot more and we resolved to do something together. Everything developed organically.
“Working on the Defy 21 was great fun and the result was incredible. I loved every detail, but the Super-LumiNova in the carbon case stood out for me.
“Second time around is easier and even more enjoyable as we know each other really well.
“Zenith is open to ideas that push boundaries in the same way I like to do with my music.
“The Defy Extreme encapsulates our two worlds and it’s a really great timepiece,” says the 61-year-old, best known for his spirit of innovation and daringness.
Zenith’s Defy Extreme Carl Cox takes its design cues from the legendary DJ’s turntables.
Having taken his craft to uncharted heights, Cox is not slowing down anytime soon.
He remains at the very top of his game and continues to thrill music lovers on the world’s biggest stages.
Zenith CEO Julien Tornare describes him as someone who is eternally cheerful, positive and abuzz with energy. And he was only too happy to write another chapter in their close friendship.
“Cox really inspires us and is proof that when you’re passionate and driven by what you do, nothing is impossible.
“This time, we really wanted to dive deeper into his rhythmic world and go back to his early days of DJ’ing with analogue instruments.
“The result is Zenith’s most advanced chronograph yet, but reimagined in a retro-futuristic and even minimalist way. And it’s truly special,” says Tornare.
Indeed, they literally went back in time to draw inspiration from one of the most indispensable tools in a DJ’s arsenal -- the turntable. Specifically, the set that put Cox in the echelon of icons.
The Defy Extreme Carl Cox’s unveiling at the Raffles nightclub in Chelsea, London.
It was the 1990s and heyday of rave. Cox was well-known in the club circles for his ferocious playing style.
DJs of the day typically mixed with two turntables, but at bigger events, there was typically a third deck kept as a spare for emergencies, in case anything went wrong with the main pair.
At one big event, with thousands on the dancefloor, Cox made a spur-of-the-moment decision. He put a record on the spare turntable and mixed it in with the other two. Cue euphonic euphoria!
“The crowd went wild even though they didn’t know at the time that I was on three decks. It was a moment that helped shape my career,” Cox recalls.
He soon became known as the Three Deck Wizard and would electrify every venue he played in -- from small clubs to large festivals in places like Stonehenge, Ibiza and even the Great Pyramids.
Defy Extreme Carl Cox with the black rubber strap option.
Signature feature
Referencing that, the Defy Extreme Carl Cox’s open dial is where similar, high-frequency three-deck “mixing” takes place.
Atop the smoked sapphire crystal base are a trio of black chronograph counters which take the form of miniature vinyl records.
At the 3 o’clock position is a 30-minute counter, while at 6 o’clock is the 60-second counter. At 9 o’clock is the small seconds sub-dial. All have concentric grooves that capture and reflect light to mimic the spin of records on turntables.
Meanwhile, the minute track is decorated with a pattern of perfectly-aligned dots that recall the stroboscope effect found on the sides of turntables.
Completing the dial features is the power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock which resembles an on/off switch.
“I feel honoured that the three turntables that helped make my name have been immortalised within this watch. Everything was beautifully done and with great attention to detail,” says Cox, who is also involved in motorsports and broadcasting, among other endeavours.
“I can’t think of a more fitting tribute for a piece of equipment that makes dancefloors all over the world come to life.
“Zenith has always been known for its mastery of movement. They set out to do something special and couldn’t have done it any better,” he enthuses.
Cox (left) and Tornare sharing a light moment during the launch of the Defy Extreme Carl Cox at Raffles nightclub in London.
While the turntables imbue the watch with character and timeless elegance, Zenith’s fastest and most-rugged chronograph to date -- with the El Primero 21 calibre -- is what sets the tempo.
Partially visible through the open dial as well as the sapphire crystal caseback, it stands alone as the world’s fastest and only serially produced chronograph movement with a high-frequency of 50Hz that offers true 1/100th of a second measurements.
The star-shaped oscillating weight as well as the main plate are specially decorated in black for the Defy Extreme Carl Cox, so it stands out against the 45mm case crafted in matte-finished stainless steel and yellow gold.
Besides being a first for the brand, the finish results in a much brighter look compared to polished or brushed steel.
Further matte yellow gold accents can be found on the dodecagonal bezel and pusher guards. These are also a nod to golden tonearms found on turntable styluses.
Altogether, it gives the watch a minimalistic and nostalgic, retro-futuristic look.
A close-up of the Defy Extreme Carl Cox’s small seconds sub-dial at 9 o’clock.
Alongside the integrated matte-finished steel bracelet, the Defy Extreme Carl Cox also comes with a black rubber strap and a black velcro strap. These can be easily swapped without using any tools, thanks to the case’s built-in quick strap-change mechanism. The interchangeability gives the wearer flexibility to match a desired look or occasion.
Innovation has been Zenith’s guiding star since the brand was established way back in 1865 as the first vertically-integrated Swiss watch manufacture.
Today, its timepieces exclusively use in-house developed and manufactured movements.
The current El Primero 9004 traces its lineage back to the very first El Primero in 1969, which was then the world’s first automatic chronograph calibre.
Tornare says the brand also prides itself on inspiring individuals to pursue their dreams and make them come true – oftentimes against all odds.
He points to how their watches have accompanied extraordinary figures who strive to achieve the impossible, citing examples such as Louis Bleriot and his history-making flight across the English Channel, and Felix Baumgartner who is known for his record-setting stratospheric free-fall jump. Cox is the latest trailblazer to don Zenith watches.
The iconic Raffles nightclub in Chelsea, London, sporting a shade of blue for the launch of Defy Extreme Carl Cox.
And because music and movement were what brought them together, the DJ also created a special playlist titled “Carl Cox X Zenith” to mark the watch’s launch. Available on Spotify and Zenith’s website, it includes the first soundtrack Cox created for the brand, aptly called This Is Our Time.
“Getting to know their team so well over the years and also personally at some of my shows, meant that I had to really pull out the stops to curate a fitting playlist.
“I started with some of the songs that we initially bonded over, including some gems that I dusted off for my online Cabin Fever sessions. I then sprinkled in tracks which I still enjoy playing today to bring people together across dancefloors.
“And to push it over the edge, I also included some lesser-known versions of my own compositions for Electronic Generations as well as some special remixes,” Cox says of the playlist.
The Defy Extreme Carl Cox is currently available to order exclusively from Zenith’s online store and boutiques around the world. Buyers of this limited-edition masterpiece will have the opportunity to meet Cox personally at selected events.
“I love the watch and am really proud to wear it. When I perform, a watch lets me know how long my set needs to be.
“But for this particular piece, glancing at it makes me smile because it’s a reminder of how far I’ve come from those early days when I first played on three turntables,” Cox adds.
