Kicking off 2023 with a focus on its most creative and daring platform for horological innovation, ZENITH is unveiling some of its latest DEFY creations at LVMH Watch Week 2023 alongside LVMH Maisons Bulgari, Hublot and Tag Heuer. Taking on a hybrid format of on-location and digital presentations, this year LVMH Watch Week is heading to Singapore followed by New York. In parallel, ZENITH will host presentations in local markets.
DEFY Skyline Skeleton
Introduced last year as the latest chapter in the enduring DEFY legacy of sturdy and singularly futuristic timekeepers, the DEFY Skyline collection was conceived for an ever-fast-moving world where every fraction of a second can be a decisive one. Taking cues from modern cityscapes where structures and light are bound in a constantly moving interplay, the DEFY Skyline Skeleton reaches even further towards the light on the horizon and opens a whole new world of possibilities to what a skeleton watch can be.
Housed within an angular 41mm steel case, the harmoniously symmetrical skeleton dial takes on the form of a four-pointed stars, in a nod to the ZENITH “double Z” logo of the 1960s. The chapter ring’s applied baton hour markers as well as the central hour and minute hands are filled with Super-LumiNova for easy legibility; something that is usually sacrificed in skeleton watches. A constantly running 1/10th of a second counter at 6 o’clock makes steady jumps in fixed increments, completing one revolution every 10 seconds. The open dial comes in black or blue, with the skeleton movement’s main plate as well as the bridges and open star-shaped oscillating weight finished in the same colour as the open dials for a cohesive and architectural look. The different finishes combining matte, satin-brushed and polished surfaces further accentuate the depth of the moment and intensity of the colour.
DEFY Skyline – Now in 36mm
New size, new colours, same striking silhouette and stellar brilliance. The DEFY Skyline is now available in a 36mm version, keeping the angular form of the original while introducing more modest, unisex proportions that perfectly fit those who prefer a smaller fit.
The mid-size DEFY Skyline comes in three dial colours. The first is the same metallic deep blue found in the 41mm version, while the other two take on totally new tones in the DEFY line, which has always dared to explore more striking chromatics since 1969. These pastel tones, in pink or green, have a metallic base that is polished then satin-brushed, with rays emanating from the applied ZENITH five-pointed star at the top of the dial. The geometrical pattern consists of engraved four-pointed stars, which are in fact a modern reimagining of the Zenith “double Z” logo of the 1960s. Adding more architectural depth, the raised and sloped chapter ring takes on the same dodecagonal form as the bezel. Perfectly integrated, the date wheels are done in colours matched to the dials.
DEFY Skyline Boutique Edition
Following the phenomenal reception of the DEFY Skyline collection last year, ZENITH is pleased to introduce its first boutique-exclusive edition of the groundbreaking model, offering an alluring combination of contrasting tones.
Housed in a 41mm angular steel case with a dodecagonal bezel that recalls the earliest DEFY wristwatches from 1969, the DEFY Skyline Boutique Edition stands out with its radiant anthracite dial, engraved with a rose gold motif and set with rose gold hands and hour markers. The visual animation is one of a constellation of golden starts twinkling against the night sky. To achieve this eye-catching effect the four-pointed stars, recalling the ZENITH emblem found in past references, are first engraved on the dial, then plated with rose gold.
Powered by the El Primero 3620 automatic high-frequency calibre, the DEFY Skyline features a unique running 1/10th of a second indicator that’s driven directly from the 5Hz escapement. Built with a similar architecture as the El Primero 3600 1/10th of a second chronograph, this automatic manufacture movement visible through the sapphire display back and is also endowed with a stop-second mechanism for precise time-setting. The efficient automatic winding mechanism with bi-directional rotor with a futuristic star motif delivers a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.
DEFY Extreme Glacier
As a watch made to brave the elements no matter how far off the beaten path, ZENITH sought to highlight the environments that the DEFY Extreme was destined for with a series of evocative special editions that integrate natural stones within the ruggedness of the toughest 1/100th of a second chronograph around. Following the DEFY Extreme Desert launched in 2021, ZENITH is going to the opposite kind of landscape for the second edition: Meet the DEFY Extreme Glacier.
Blurring the lines between precision watchmaking and sculptural, wearable art, the DEFY Extreme Glacier is directly inspired by frozen barren landscapes, where only those truly adapted to endure the harsh and extreme environment can thrive.
An integral part of the titanium case, the component that protects the pushers as well as the dodecagonal bezel are crafted from chalcedony, a crystalline semi-translucent stone with a pale blue hue that evokes the frozen glaciers. Meticulously cut and polished by hand, each stone is different and exhibits slightly different colours and fibrous structures, making each of the 50 examples of the DEFY Extreme Glacier essentially a unique piece.
