Launched in 2022, the Defy Skyline assortment was Zenith‘s reply to the massive demand for sports activities watches with built-in design and bracelet. Since its preliminary introduction, we’ve got seen a number of new editions of this watch, together with compact variations, ceramic fashions, a chronograph and even a high-frequency tourbillon. However some of the impactful fashions was and nonetheless is the Defy Skyline Skeleton, with its star-shaped openworked dial. Already accessible in black ceramic, it’s now joined by a summer-themed model in white ceramic with a blue dial.
Despite the fact that the Defy assortment is touted as Zenith’s imaginative and prescient for contemporary watchmaking, outlined by revolutionary supplies and actions designed in additional futuristic types (to not neglect some really daring and sporty watches), the title truly refers to one of many oldest collections of the model, as utilized by Zenith in 1902 for a line of strong and exact pocket watches however spelt Defi. Extra lately, the title Defy was used once more in 1969 with a heavy-duty mannequin with an angular octagonal case and a loopy tetradecagonal (14 sides) bezel. This watch, described as a vault because of its general robustness, is the inspiration behind the fashionable Defy assortment.
Following the introduction of the sporty-chic Skyline watches in 2022, the model launched a somewhat impressed skeletonized mannequin with a particular dial design, typical of Zenith’s language. Sharing the identical design because the shut dial fashions, the Defy Skyline Skeleton is a sporty imaginative and prescient of the built-in luxurious watch, measuring 41mm in diameter with a top of 11.6mm – no ultra-thin case right here… The case continues to be angular, octagonal and strong – with a 100m water-resistance and a screw-down crown – however is now surmounted by a 12-sided faceted bezel – a extra balanced resolution than the 14-sided bezel of the classic fashions, as a result of it really works as an extension of the hour markers.
Following the discharge of metal fashions, the model launched final 12 months a black ceramic model of the Defy Skyline Skeleton, retaining many of the design cues and equivalent surfaces – brushed with polished accents. New for this 12 months is its mirror model, housed in a white ceramic case, with an identical bracelet or a rubber strap. Fairly a daring assertion, full white watches are far much less widespread than blacked-out fashions however deliver one thing contemporary and shiny, but not essentially the most discreet of attires. Be ready, this new white ceramic Defy received’t be flying beneath the radar. Nevertheless it absolutely has charisma. One of many benefits is to have a fabric that’s scratch-resistant and can preserve its pristine search for years (fairly necessary with white, you’ll admit).
A traditional mixture, for a cool summery impact, the dial and the motion are right here coated in darkish blue for distinction. The symmetrical openworked bridges that type a four-pointed star provide a beneficiant view of the El Primero-based motion, full with a 3D Zenith star suspended between the bridges at midday. This sense of symmetry is even strengthened by the 6 o’clock place of the operating seconds, which is like most Defy watches not a traditional small seconds counter however signifies the 1/tenth of a second and completes one rotation each 10 seconds. To keep up an honest degree of legibility, the arms and hour markers are rhodium-plated and faceted, standing out somewhat clearly from the blue canvas beneath. All components of the show are coated in SLN.
The see-through caseback reveals the El Primero 3620 SK, a 3-hand model of the El Primero 3600 chronograph discovered contained in the Chronomaster Sport and Chronomaster Unique. Beating at 36,000 vibrations/hour, it includes a silicon escapement and shops as much as 55 hours of vitality when totally wound by its star-shaped rotor. The again of the motion can be totally coated in blue.
The ultimate contact with this white Defy Skyline Skeleton comes from a full ceramic bracelet matching the ending of the case. It’s closed by a folding clasp and includes a sensible fast strap-change mechanism, which turns out to be useful as Zenith additionally features a white rubber strap within the field.
Now accessible from the model and chosen retailers, the Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton in White Ceramic is alleged to be “accessible in small portions” and is priced at CHF 16,900 or EUR 18,300. For extra particulars, please go to Zenith-Watches.com.