Zenith Defy Classic Open El Primero Men's Watch 86.0526.4021/01.M527

Zenith - Alain Robert, The French Spiderman

Alain Robert, nicknamed "the French Spiderman", will attempt to scale, bare-handed, the tallest Ferris wheel in the world, a height equal to 44 stories. Known for his illegal climbs, Alain has already scaled more than 80 skyscrapers including the Empire State Building in New York, and the Taipei 101, the second tallest building in the world. His exploits — performed without permission — sometimes means he has to face local authorities.

Le Locle, November 2010. As part of the International Extreme Sports Festival held from November 5th to 7th, Alain Robert will attack the huge panoramic Ferris wheel in Singapore, the tallest in the world, measuring 165 meters (541 ft). Using neither ropes nor karabiners, Alain has already scaled over 80 skyscrapers on all continents. While this spider man has often had to face local authorities after his illegal feats, this time he has all the necessary authorizations. Before beginning his climbs of urban buildings, Alain Robert was considered one of the best cliff climbers. He has even been awarded the "Prix pour la Performance d'un Athlete", presented by the former president of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Antonio Samaranche. For his next feat in Singapore, the new ZENITH ambassador will be wearing an El Primero Striking 10TH on his wrist; this exceptional chronograph is the only one that precisely measures and displays tenths of a second.

Parents, Don't Leave Your Windows Open!
As a child, Alain Robert dreamed of following his heroes: famous climbers, free  men whose tales had thrilled him in his childhood. However, his family did not  appreciate their son's desires. So, Alain learned the rudiments of climbing in  secret. One day, when he was twelve years old, Alain forget his house keys,  and climbed in through the family's apartment window. It is important to note,  however, that the family lived on the eighth floor at the time! His parents gave  in, and Alain became a high-level climber. What motivates him is "calculated risk,  controlling fear, mastering fright". Then Alain Robert decided to climb solo, without  insurance, without ropes and with no margin for error. He began seeking  out extreme cliff ascents.

The Power of Perseverance
In 1994, Alain Robert scaled his first tower in Chicago. This was the beginning of his career as an urban climber. He realized that he loved confronting seemingly impossible challenges and that this could finally be a way for him to live out his passion. He climbed tower after tower across the world. Then, on one occasion when he was actually using ropes, an accident occurred: he fell 49 feet head first. The cause was a poorly tied knot that came loose as he abseiled down. He spent five days in a coma, having suffered multiple fractures to his skull, nose, wrists, elbow, pelvis and heels. His doctors were pessimistic: "This young man will never climb again." However, thanks to exceptional mental strength, a year after his accident, Alain Robert was climbing once more, reaching the highest level in his discipline. An ironic twist to the tale: since his fall, Alain suffers from vertigo caused by damage to his inner ear.

Climbing for Humanitarian Causes
While Alain Robert is well known for his illegal climbs, most people do not realize that many of his climbs are for humanitarian causes. His illegal ascent of the Kuala Lumpur tower had such huge media coverage that the Sabah Foundation in Borneo asked him to climb its skyscrapers. Authorities gave their approval and the event took on unimaginable scope: 15,000 people attended the spectacle and the event raised €150,000. In 15 years, Alain Robert has climbed over 100 skyscrapers and well known monuments worldwide. One of his greatest successes was climbing the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, with over 100,000 spectators watching from the bottom of the tower! For Alain, the city has become a huge mountain, with the one difference...thatthere will always be new towers to climb.

The French Spiderman 
"The media have nicknamed me "Spiderman". But when I climb skyscrapers, there are neither special effects nor safety net!"

ZENITH and the pioneering spirit 
ZENITH has often broken ground in unexplored territories: the steepest slopes that other brands consider unassailable. This ability to come up with new ideas, exploiting new technical developments - then launch them before anyone else - is fascinating.

ZENITH watches have participated in some of the grandest human adventures: the explorer Roald Amundsen's discovery of the North and South Poles, Mahatma Gandhi's peaceful struggle for India's independence, the laying of the foundations of ecology by Prince Albert 1st of Monaco, Louis Bleriot's crossing of the English Channel, John F. Kennedy's political action and French doctor Jean-Louis etienne's solo balloon flight over the North Pole. And very soon, a watch will participate in an attempt to be the first to cross the sound barrier in direct contact with the stratosphere, thereby proving its exceptional reliability.

"Climbing is a passion; it's my life's philosophy."ACCOMPLISHMENTSEurope
Portland House, 101 m, London, 2008
Skyper Tower, 154 m, Frankfurt, 2008
Vostok Tower, 354 m, Moscow, 2007
Agbar Tower, 144 m, Barcelona, 2006/07
25th April Bridge, 190 m, Lisbon, 2007
Tour Vasco de Gama, 145 m, Lisbon, 2006
Lloyd's Building, 95 m, London, 2003
Canary Wharf Building, 244 m, London, 2002
Publisher's building, 85 m, Berlin, 1999
Bank of Slovakia, 75 m, Slovakia, 1998
Marriott Hotel, 150 m, Warsaw, 1998
Deutsche Bank, 155 m, Germany, 1998
Hotel Arts, 155 m, Barcelona, 1995
Banca di Milano building, 112 m, Milan, 1995
Dresdner Bank, 145 m, Frankfurt, 1995
Canary Wharf Building, 244 m, London, 1995USA
NY Times Building, 228 m, New York, 2008
Crown Plaza Hotel, 120 m, Montreal, 1999
Sears Tower, 443 m, Chicago, 1999
Blue Cross, Blue Shield, 185 m, Philadelphie, 1997
Golden Gate bridge, 227 m, San Francisco, 1996
Luxor Pyramid, 106 m, Las Vegas, 1996
Brooklyn Bridge, 84 m, New York, 1994
Calico Building, 192 m, New York, 1994
City Bank/ Corp Building, 187 m, Chicago, 1994France
Mercuriales Tower, 125 m, Paris, 2006
Cristal Tower, 100 m, Paris, 2005
Montparnasse Tower, 209 m, Paris, 2004
The "Saint Georges", 25 m, Toulouse, France, 2004
Total Tower, 187 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 2003
Franklin Tower, 122 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 2002
Elf Fina Total Tower, 187 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 2001
Pezenas city hall, 20 m, Pezenas, 2000
Pau city hall, 15 m, Pau, 2000
Maison Consulaire, 20 m, Pezenas, 2000
Obelisque de la Concorde, 31 m, Paris, 2000
Elf Tower, 187 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 1999
Arche de la Defense, 105 m, Paris, 1999
Louvre Pyramid, 22 m, Paris, 1998
Framatome, 180 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 1998
Valence city hall, 45 m, Valence, 1998
Sacre-Coeur Basilica, 65 m, Paris, 1998
Concorde Obelisk, 31 m, Paris, 1998
Concorde Lafayette Hotel, 125 m, Paris, 1997
Crest Tower, 50 m, Crest, 1997
Eiffel Topwer, 313 m, Paris, 1996/97
Cristal Tower, 100 m, Paris, 1996
Europe Tower, 70 m, Valence, 1996
TF1 Tower, 60 m, Boulogne-Billancourt, 1995
National Library, 85 m, Paris, 1995/2008
GAN Tower, 184 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 1995
Franklin Tower, 122 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 1994
Montparnasse Tower, 209 m, Paris, 1995
Mercuriales Tower, 125 m, Paris, 1995
Elf-Aquitaine Tower, 187 m, La Defense, Nanterre, 1994Central and South America
Italia Building, 163 m, São Paulo, 2008
World Plaza, 127 m, Mexico City, 2006
Parque Central Tower, 125 m, Caracas, 1998
F.I.E.S.P, 99 m, São Paulo, 1996
Vermont Hotel, ?, Rio de Janeiro, 1996Australia
Sydney Opera House, 65 m, Sydney, 1997
Center Point, 319 m, Sydney, 1997
Sydney Harbour Bridge, 135 m, Sydney, 1997Asia
Four Seasons Hotel, 130 m, Hong Kong, 2008
Suntec Tower, 176 m, Singapore, 2008
Jakarta, 70 m, Djakarta, 2008
Jin Mao, 420 m, Shanghai, 2007
Cheung Kong Center, 283 m, Hong Kong, 2005/09
Taipei 101, 508 m, Taipei, 2004
OUB, 280 m, Singapore, 2000
Sinjuku Center Building, 245 m, Tokyo, 1998
Melia Hotel, 80 m, Kuala Lumpur, 1997
Sabah Fondation, 150 m, Borneo, 1997
Petronas Twin Towers, 452 m, Kuala Lumpur, 1997/07
ATV Asia, 30 m, Hong Kong, 1996
NEC Building, 200 m, Hong Kong, 1996
Far East Finance Center, 200 m, Hong Kong, 1996