For this year’s LVMH Watch Week, which is taking place in Milan, Zenith unveiled a top-to-bottom enhancement of its Defy Skyline collection. Introduced in 2022, the Defy Skyline took Zenith’s daring, avant-garde Defy watches and refined them into something a little more casual and retro-inspired, but still contemporary and elegant. This slew of new releases means there are now a few additional options for every wrist.
Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton
Heading the pack is the Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton (RM455,000), which is the first skeletonised tourbillon watch for the collection. It is presented largely in rose gold, including a 41mm case and bracelet. The warm tones of this luxe material are set off by the main movement bridges showcased in a dashing blue. It incorporates a suggestion of Zenith’s star motif into its architecture with the tourbillon cage at its centre—the cage itself also sporting its own star-shaped structure. Limited to 50 pieces, its automatic El Primero movement ticks at 5Hz, and comes with an additional blue rubber strap that takes advantage of its interchangeable strap system.
Defy Skyline Chronograph
After turning heads with a striking blue ceramic expression last year, Zenith revisits the material but in a darker, moodier fashion with the Defy Skyline Chronograph (RM103,500) in a black ceramic case. At 42mm in diameter, its brushed finish is set off with polished facets, and the gradient dial, which darkens from grey to near-black at the edges, has something of a light-and-shadow motif. Inside, you have, of course, an El Primero movement, which means it is self-winding and ticks at 5Hz, allowing readings down to the 1/10th of a second.
Defy Skyline Skeleton
It is black ceramic once again with the new Defy Skyline Skeleton (RM83,700), but in a markedly different mood from the chronograph, with a skeletonised calibre on full display in a glorious gold-toned colour. The polished gleam of the exposed movement makes for quite the dynamic contrast with the 41mm case. The main bridges of the movement make up Zenith’s four-pointed star symbol, set off by the small seconds indicator at 6 o’clock.
Defy Skyline 36
The supremely wearable Defy Skyline 36 welcomes two new executions, a fine reminder of its unisex sizing at a time when smaller watches are becoming increasingly in vogue. The pre-existing offerings are a colourful bunch of blues, greens, and pinks, but the new expressions are a little more reserved and understated, with a straightforward silver-toned sunray dial. Its steel case is 36mm in diameter, and is available plain (RM41,600) or with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds (RM58,900) set into the bezel.
Defy Revival A3643
The final release is the only one that is not a Defy Skyline; instead, it is one of Zenith’s Defy Revival series, which is a perennial favourite of vintage watch lovers. Indeed, the new Defy Revival A3642 (RM34,100) is a dead ringer for one of the earliest available Defy watches from 1969. Reproduced with the aid of a high-precision scan of the original, it includes hallmarks such as a 14-sided bezel, an octagonal case, and a ladder-style bracelet. Sized at a historically appropriate 37mm, its silver dial is complemented by striking hour indicators with black lacquer ends, and an orange-tipped seconds hand.
