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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The Zenith DEFY Chronograph USM is a modern, limited-edition chronograph that brings together the angular character of Zenith’s 1969 DEFY, its El Primero movement, and the modular design language of USM Haller. It is not a 1960s watch or a reissue of a vintage DEFY chronograph: USM describes it as the first time the DEFY was made as a chronograph.
What is the Zenith DEFY Chronograph USM?
Announced in September 2025, the collaboration combines the DEFY’s geometric case design with an El Primero chronograph and visual references to USM Haller furniture. The meeting of the brands’ histories is retrospective: Zenith introduced the original DEFY and El Primero in 1969, while USM says the ball joint at the heart of its Haller system was patented in 1965. The sources describe a conceptual connection, not a documented collaboration between the companies in the 1960s.
ZENITH framed the project as a meeting of “Swiss precision, purposeful aesthetics, and a vision of modernity that transcends time” in its September 2025 launch announcement. USM describes its system as using an “elegant and ingenious ball joint, patented in 1965” that lets steel modules be adapted and reconfigured in its official collaboration feature.
How the USM Haller design appears on the watch
The collaboration’s furniture reference is more than a choice of bright colours. The tip of the chronograph seconds hand carries a miniature USM Haller ball joint, translating the modular system’s defining connector into a small watch detail. The capsule watches also come with a custom-designed USM Haller timepiece chest.
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The design keeps the DEFY’s angular identity while giving the watch a new chronograph configuration. Zenith’s later description of the design says the retained codes include a 37mm stainless-steel case with an octagonal profile, a fourteen-sided bezel, overlapping chronograph counters and a stainless-steel ladder bracelet.
Movement and specifications
USM identifies the movement in the DEFY Chronograph USM as the El Primero 400. Zenith’s October 2026 technical description of the unique TimeForArt interpretation gives the following figures and says the core design codes remain; these are manufacturer-published specifications, not independent test results.
| Specification | Published detail |
|---|---|
| Case | 37mm stainless steel; octagonal profile |
| Bezel | Fourteen-sided |
| Movement | El Primero 400 automatic column-wheel chronograph |
| Frequency | 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz) |
| Power reserve | 55 hours |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM |
| Bracelet | Stainless-steel ladder bracelet |
These technical figures come from Zenith’s page about the one-off 2026 TimeForArt watch, which states that it retains the original collaboration’s core design codes. They should not be read as independently measured accuracy or real-world water-resistance results.
Four colourways in the 2025 capsule
The original capsule has four dial colours. USM gives each colourway a limit of 60 pieces and describes the custom timepiece chest as part of the exclusive capsule.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11| Colourway | Edition identity |
|---|---|
| USM Gentian Blue | 60 pieces; custom USM Haller timepiece chest |
| USM Golden Yellow | 60 pieces; custom USM Haller timepiece chest |
| USM Green | 60 pieces; custom USM Haller timepiece chest |
| USM Pure Orange | 60 pieces; custom USM Haller timepiece chest |
The colour names and edition details are given by USM’s collaboration feature. The four versions differ by dial colour; the source does not identify different movements or specifications among them.
How much does the Zenith DEFY Chronograph USM cost?
Zenith’s US product listing showed a price of $11,800 and marked the watch “Sold out” and “Special edition” when checked in 2026. Price and stock labels can change. That status describes Zenith’s US page only; it does not establish whether an authorized retailer or a secondary-market example is available. See the official US product listing for the current listing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the 2026 TimeForArt watch differs
On October 6, 2026, Zenith announced a separate, unique DEFY Chronograph USM for the TimeForArt benefit auction. It has a mirror-polished dial representing all four USM colours, rather than one of the four production capsule’s solid colourways. The unique piece is accompanied by a one-off mirrored USM Haller sideboard and was scheduled for auction at Phillips New York on December 5, 2026, according to Zenith’s announcement. It is a later one-off, not a fifth production colour or evidence that the 2025 capsule is back in stock.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
