Zenith’s presentation this year was all about its Defy collection, more specifically the Defy Skyline range, and its single-minded focus was justified. Introduced in early 2022, the relatively young series quickly became a hit, with demand reportedly outpacing supply, and the Swiss brand is now following up with the sophomore Defy Skyline releases. “It became one of the top bestsellers overnight, I would say,” states Julien Tornare, president and CEO of Zenith. “So logically, people were expecting to have this watch in a skeleton version [next].”
And not just a typical skeleton concept. “Of course, because it’s part of the Defy collection, which is very contemporary, [fans] did not want us to go on the classic approach of the skeleton; they wanted something very modern, an engine- type skeletonised movement, and that’s exactly the approach we took, because it’s the right fit for Defy,” Tornare explains.
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The Defy Skyline’s overwhelming popularity stems at least in part from its versatility. “It’s definitely about modernity and innovation, but it’s also a watch—whether you go for the plain dial or the skeleton dial—that’s very wearable for any occasion,” he elaborates. “You’d like to have a watch [that’s widely adaptable because] you don’t want to change your watch for every type of activity you have during the day, or [in going from] day to night.”
Though Zenith novelties are well-received and in high demand, Tornare accepts that perfection cannot be hurried. “Sometimes I wish we were producing T-shirts, that way it would be less of a headache!” he quips. “But we are making complicated watches that require very high-end skills and that sometimes require more time. I’m the first one to be impatient and frustrated sometimes but it’s part of our job so
we have to accept it.”
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Defy Skyline Skeleton: The Defy Skyline, launched last year, was inspired by the energy and edginess of cityscapes at night, and now the Defy Skyline Skeleton
takes things up a notch with its imposing, machine-like expression. A modern interpretation of the skeleton watch, it features a robust 41mm steel case and a symmetrical open dial, in blue or black, distinguished and dominated by the four-point star design—the brand’s logo that has appeared on its Defy casebacks, inspired by its double-Z logo of the ’60s. A 1/10th of a second counter sits at 6 o’clock, making one revolution every 10 seconds, while the high-frequency El Primero calibre 3620SK, featuring an automatic bi-directional winding mechanism and five-point star-shaped rotor, keeps the timepiece humming along, with a power reserve 60 hours.
Defy Skyline 36mm: Though the Defy Skyline 36mm has smaller proportions compared to its predecessor, a substantial 41mm, it continues the latter’s faceted steel case and 12-sided bezel. The mid-size watch is distinguished by its variety of dial colours: deep blue, like the 2022 model, and now pastel pink and pastel green too, the latter two found on a polished and then satin-brushed metallic base emblazoned with a fine pattern made up of engraved four-point stars. Available with or without diamonds set on the bezel, the Defy Skyline 36mm runs on the Elite 670 automatic movement, with a power reserve of 50 hours, and the quick strap-change mechanism allows for switching between the steel bracelet and a rubber strap.
Defy Skyline Boutique Edition: The first boutique exclusive edition of the Defy Skyline, this 41mm timepiece features a 12-sided bezel reminiscent of the early Defy watches from 1969. The anthracite dial is engraved with a pattern of four-pointed stars, which are then plated with rose gold, to create a motif that subtly references a star-studded night sky, and complemented by rose gold hands and hour markers. Fitted with the El Primero 3620 automatic high-frequency calibre and a 1/10th of a second indicator, the Defy Skyline Boutique Edition boasts a power reserve of 60 hours.
This article originally appeared on Grazia Singapore.
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