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ZENITH UNVEILS ITS LATEST CREATIONS AT LVMH WATCH WEEK 2022

Foto del escritor: Eduardo MartínezEduardo Martínez



Starting the year at full throttle, Zenith is unveiling some of its latest creations at LVMH Digital Watch Week 2022 alongside LVMH Maisons Bulgari, Hublot and Tag Heuer. Taking place over several days, Zenith will host a series of digital events and presentations, supported by physical one-to-one presentations in local markets. This year, the spotlight is back on the DEFY collection, the Zenith Manufacture’s platform for innovation and unprecedented expressions in the art of watchmaking. At the forefront is the new DEFY Skyline, a collection that builds upon the legacy of robustness and performance that has defined the line since the earliest Zenith “Defi” pocket watches of the early 20th century right through to its most recent references. Reinterpreting elements from the 1969 DEFY A3642 in a contemporary context and packed with the performance of the Manufacture’s latest generation of the El Primero movement, the DEFY Skyline is set to become a staple model for Zenith.


On the new DEFY Skyline, Zenith CEO Julien Tornare shares, “After a lot of time spent perfecting the design, proportions and precision, my team and I are extremely proud of the way the DEFY Skyline turned out. It’s the purest expression of the modernistic DEFY line that stands out without ever feeling out of place, and really solidifies the DEFY’s position at the forefront of the future of watchmaking”. Follow your light to reach your star. In an ever-fast-moving world where every fraction of a second can be a decisive one, the DEFY Skyline is up to the pace with a sleek and evocative design paired with an unprecedented function.

Its architectural and highly faceted silhouette draws inspiration from the unique octagonal geometry of the early DEFY models including the recently revived DEFY A3642, without attempting to merely recreate the past. It retains the same DNA of robustness and durability as its predecessors while bringing an edgier aesthetic. Fixed atop the 41mm stainless steel case with sharply defined edges, the faceted bezel is similar to those from early DEFY models, reimagined with twelve sides that echo the hour markers. The screw-down crown emblazoned with the star emblem provides a water-resistance of 10 ATM (100 metres).


Recalling the seemingly still night sky above a bustling city that never sleeps, the DEFY Skyline features a geometrically structured and whimsically celestial star-studded dial, with a sunburst finish embellished with a perfectly aligned pattern consisting of engraved four-pointed stars, which are in fact a modern reimagining of the Zenith “double Z” logo of the 1960s.


Besides the central hour and minute hands and a date window at 3 o’clock finished in the same colour as the dial, the DEFY Skyline brings something new to the table that’s as much a demonstration of technical prowess as it is a visually captivating animation rarely ever seen on a wristwatch. On the small counter at 9 o’clock, a constantly running 1/10th of a second hand makes steady jumps in fixed increments, reminding the wearer of the fleeting nature of time and the precision of the 5Hz movement within and completing a full revolution every 10 seconds.


This exceptional performance is delivered by the new El Primero 3620 calibre. 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 drives the 1/10th of a second hand directly from the escapement, which beats at 5Hz (36’000 VpH). It is also endowed with a stop-second mechanism for precise time-setting. The efficient automatic winding mechanism with bi-directional rotor with a star motif delivers a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.



The DEFY Skyline is delivered on a steel bracelet with a satin-brushed surface with chamfered and polished edges, seamlessly following the contours of the faceted case. A colour-coordinated rubber strap with a starry sky pattern in continuity with the dial is also provided with a steel folding clasp and can be easily swapped without any tools using the DEFY case’s ingenious quick strap-change mechanism consisting of secure buttons on the back.

DEFY Revival A3642



To understand the genesis of the new DEFY Skyline collection, one must look back to the very beginning of the disruptive collection. Following the highly acclaimed and sought-after “Revival” reproductions of historical El Primero models from the 1960s and 1970s, the Zenith Manufacture has turned its attention to another monumental piece from 1969: the DEFY A3642. Reproduced as a limited edition of 250 pieces in stunningly accurate detail using the original production plans from 1969, the DEFY Revival A3642 brings back all the details and singular design elements that made the original so outstanding in its era and how it established the codes that continues to inspire modern DEFY references, including the most recent Skyline. This includes an octagonal case paired with a fourteen-sided bezel, a warm grey dial with a striking gradient effect that darkens towards the edges, unusual applied square hour markers feature horizontal grooves, and the now-iconic Gay Frères steel “ladder” bracelet. The wide sword-shaped hands are generously filled with SuperLumiNova in a similar tone to Tritium found in the original, paired with a paddle-shaped seconds hand that is a prominent feature in numerous Zenith watches of the same era. In fact, the only cosmetic differences between the Revival and its progenitor are the sapphire crystal, the display case back and the type of luminescent pigments. The water-resistance of 30ATM (300 metres) has also been maintained from the original, even with the addition of a display back. The other main difference beats away inside. Instead of the original’s solid case back emblazoned with a four-pointed star that become one of the brand’s logos and recurring design element for years to come, the DEFY Revival A3642 features a sapphire display back showing the automatic Elite 670 manufacture movement, operating at a frequency of 4 Hz (28’800 VpH) and delivering a power reserve of 50 hours when fully wound. With the DEFY Revival A3642, Zenith is not only bringing back one of its most daring and outstanding references from the 1960s, but also highlighting the unique genesis of the Manufacture’s boldest and most innovative collection by returning to the source.

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