The time: 5:00 PM
The watch: Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma
At the lively intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Harmon Avenue, right outside the Shops at Crystals, Ocean Prime Las Vegas delivers an experience where sophistication meets vibrant energy. This time, we invited our friend Bruce to join us. The lounge, where our evening unfolded, is a masterclass in modern elegance. Soft curves define the space, with deep plum leather booths and golden ambient light creating a warm glow that mirrors the rhythmic pulse of the Strip outside. The hum of conversation flows under the canopy of sculptural lighting, while the bar itself glows like a jewel, a focal point of style and movement that feels as dynamic as the chronograph heartbeat of our chosen timepiece, the Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma White Ceramic Limited Edition. Together, they made for an great evening, much like my other Las Vegas dining experiences.
Our experience began with the Black Orchid, a cocktail as visually striking as it is balanced. Belvedere Organic Blackberry & Lemongrass Vodka mingles with St. Germain, lemon, and white cranberry juice, served over a crystalline ice sphere that blooms in hues of pink as it melts. The clarity of presentation and layered refreshment echo the Zenith’s openworked dial, a precise composition of complexity presented with deceptive simplicity. Like the watch’s rainbow-accented bridges beneath white ceramic, this cocktail reveals color and depth only upon closer appreciation.
Next came the A-5 Wagyu Stix, glazed with sesame oil and togarashi. Each bite captures the essence of indulgence: buttery, richly marbled, and seared with intention. These melt in your mouth and are a must have. There’s a tactile pleasure in its precision, much like the watch’s 1/100th-of-a-second chronograph function. Both celebrate extremes of craftsmanship: one from the grill, one from Zenith’s Le Locle workshop, each revealing what mastery feels like when pushed to its finest edge.
Presented on a single plate yet offering two distinct flavor profiles, the Prime Roll and Ocean Roll speak to contrast and harmony. The Prime Roll, with tempura shrimp, cream cheese, scallion, and beef carpaccio, is bold, layered and a statement of richness and texture. The Ocean Roll, with tuna, salmon, hamachi, avocado, and chili garlic oil, offers a counterpoint of freshness and vibrancy. Together, they mirror the duality within the El Primero 21’s twin escapements: one regulating time with precision, the other driving a high-speed chronograph with electrifying energy. Each roll has its tempo, yet together they compose a single rhythm, like a watch balancing speed and accuracy in perfect synchrony.
The Lamb Lollipops arrive glistening with teriyaki glaze, sprinkled with togarashi crumble, and finished in soy butter sauce. Their aroma is rich yet refined, and the flavor progression of sweet, savory and umami, is seamless. This dish embodies the spirit of the Chroma White Ceramic: outwardly bold, yet engineered for balance. The interplay of textures recalls the layered architecture of Zenith’s skeletonized dial, where every surface, edge, and hue serves a deliberate purpose. For those who love skeletonized designs, you can also discover more skeletonized masterpieces here.
The Pairing
The Zenith Defy El Primero 21 Chroma White Ceramic is a celebration of precision expressed through color and motion. Its white ceramic case gleams with restrained brilliance, while the rainbow gradient across its markers and bridges hints at the same vibrancy that defines Ocean Prime’s atmosphere. Inside, the El Primero 9004 calibre beats at an extraordinary pace, with a dual-escapement movement capable of timing events down to 1/100th of a second. It’s an engineering feat that captures the spirit of a city built on spectacle and precision alike.
Much like the progression of our dinner, this timepiece fuses artistry and performance. The skeletonized dial reveals a spectrum of creativity beneath a clean, modern exterior, much like the restaurant’s ability to blend energy and refinement in every plate. Both the watch and the dining experience are studies in controlled vibrancy: where light, color, and motion coexist in perfect balance.
This and many other timepieces are available at Bespoke Luxury Heroes, where we can source any luxury watch your heart desires.
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