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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Zenith’s latest DEFY Chronograph USM is a unique piece made for TimeForArt—not a new production run of the blue-dial, 60-piece edition introduced in 2025. Announced October 6, 2026, the one-off pairs a mirror-polished dial with four USM colors and is scheduled to be auctioned at Phillips New York on December 5, 2026.
What is the new Zenith DEFY Chronograph USM?
The DEFY Chronograph USM – TimeForArt Unique Piece is a one-off collaboration between Zenith and Swiss furniture maker USM. Its reference is 03.A780.400-T/01.M3642. The defining visual change is a fully mirror-polished dial accented in USM Golden Yellow, Pure Orange, Green and Gentian Blue. Zenith’s October 6, 2026 announcement says the central chronograph seconds hand is Gentian Blue and ends in a miniature USM Haller ball joint.
The watch comes with a unique USM Haller furniture piece created for the project. Zenith describes the collaboration through the brands’ shared Swiss design and manufacturing heritage. Its announcement notes that the USM Haller modular system was patented in 1965; it also frames 1969 as the year Zenith introduced both the original DEFY and the El Primero high-frequency automatic chronograph.
Specifications of the 2026 unique piece
| Specification | Zenith-published detail |
|---|---|
| Reference | 03.A780.400-T/01.M3642 |
| Case | 37 mm stainless steel |
| Dial | Mirror-polished, with Golden Yellow, Pure Orange, Green and Gentian Blue details |
| Movement | El Primero 400 automatic column-wheel chronograph |
| Frequency | 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz) |
| Power reserve | 55 hours |
| Chronograph and display | Central chronograph hand; 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock; 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock; small seconds at 9 o’clock; date at 4:30 |
| Other construction details | Silicon escape wheel and lever; screwed-in crown |
| Water resistance | 10 ATM |
| Bracelet | Stainless-steel ladder bracelet |
| Companion object | Unique USM Haller furniture piece made for the project |
These are specifications published by Zenith, not results from independent testing. The release describes the movement and construction but does not establish independent accuracy or performance measurements.
How it differs from the 2025 60-piece edition
The October 2026 announcement concerns a single TimeForArt watch. It should not be confused with the original ZENITH x USM capsule watch, announced September 4, 2025, which was limited to 60 pieces. Both use a 37 mm stainless-steel DEFY Chronograph format, but their references, dials and stated power reserves differ.
| 2025 DEFY Chronograph USM | 2026 TimeForArt Unique Piece | |
|---|---|---|
| Release | Collaboration announced September 4, 2025 | One-off announced October 6, 2026 |
| Reference | 03.A780.400/19.M3642 | 03.A780.400-T/01.M3642 |
| Production | Limited edition of 60 | Unique piece |
| Dial | USM Gentian Blue | Mirror-polished with four USM color details |
| Power reserve | Approximately 50 hours | 55 hours |
| Acquisition information | Zenith’s US product page listed $11,800 and showed the watch out of stock when checked October 7, 2026 | Announced for Phillips New York auction on December 5, 2026 |
Zenith’s 2025 release announcement describes the original as a DEFY reinterpretation with a chronograph powered by the El Primero 400. Its US product page supplies the original edition’s reference, edition size, price and approximate power reserve. The $11,800 figure is the listed US price checked October 7, 2026; the page showed out of stock at that time. Price and availability can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When and where will the TimeForArt watch be auctioned?
Zenith announced that Phillips New York will auction the unique watch on December 5, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST. The brand says 100% of proceeds, including Phillips’ buyer’s premium, will benefit Swiss Institute. This is a scheduled future auction, not a completed sale; the announcement does not establish a final price or confirm that charitable proceeds have been realized. Consult Zenith’s announcement for the stated auction information.
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