From Le Locle to Singapore, here is the new Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton, the world’s first skeleton watch with a 1/10th of a second precision indicator. The brand kicked off the fourth edition of LVMH Watch Week this January in Singapore-these are the first releases of the year 2023 for the world.
Let’s find out what’s special about these new Skyline Skeletons.
The story of Zenith, high-frequency movements and DEFY
If we talk about Zenith, we can only talk about high-frequency mechanisms.
El Primero was the star that lit up the watchmaking world in 1969 with its precision, innovation and uniqueness. Zenith’s engineers devoted themselves to creating the first caliber that took advantage of increased frequency to increase precision. At the time, chronographs beat at about 21,600 vibrations per hour, the El Primero beat at a whopping 5 Hz. At 36,000 a/h
And still speaking of Zenith, the DEFY collection is of key importance. The first watches with this name actually derived from the “Défi,” pocket models with precise and robust mechanisms. This term in French has the meaning of “challenge” and it is exactly how Zenith uses this collection, to challenge the watchmaking industry.
The first DEFY in 1969 had an unprecedented faceted case with a metal bracelet, which was a major innovation at the time. Indeed, It was a forerunner of the more famous models with integrated bracelets that came in later years. In 2022 these shapes were translated into the Skyline collection.
The new Defy Skyline Skeleton
The inspiration for these new Zenith Defy Skyline Skeletons comes from the play of light in urban landscapes, between concrete, architecture and constant movement. Milan that never stops is probably the perfect example of how a city can match a watch, from the shades of gray of the case and bracelet to the black or blue of the dial.
This new edition features a 41 millimeter steel case, like the model introduced in 2022. DEFY watches were nicknamed at the time by the Italians as “The Time Safe,” the sturdiness in fact of these timepieces is still found today in these new Skylines.
What has always intrigued us about the Zenith collections are the bracelets, as well as the interchangeable straps. We have a particularly comfortable satin-brushed and polished three-link bracelet, with the addition of a rubber strap with a star pattern, echoing the current Zenith logo.
Finally, we have a screw-down crown and water resistance of up to 10 ATM, or 100 meters. The faceted indexes are coated with SuperLuminova.
The inspiration of the “Double Z” in the El Primero 3620SK skeleton mechanism.
The El Primero 3620SK movement is an evolution of the 3620 presented in the first Defy Skyline of 2022, which in turn was inspired by the 3600.
For the design, Zenith took a leap into a past that not everyone is familiar with, that of the “Double Z” logo that first appeared in the 1960s. Indeed, in the skeletonization we notice that there are 4 curves, which develop bringing the viewer’s attention to the center of the dial.
The main highlight, as we said at the beginning of the article, is the indicator with 1/10th of a second accuracy present at 6 o’clock. A feature exclusive to Zenith watches and one that had never been made skeletonized before.
This allows us to admire several components of the movement, such as the silicon anchor and escapement wheel, which is distinguished in both versions by its contrasting hue.
Power reserve of the caliber is 60 hours.
Price and availability
The price of the new Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton in steel will be CHF10,900 and will be available at all authorized boutiques and retailers of the brand.
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