At the LVMH Watch Week held in Milan from January 19 to 21, Zenith once again focused on its iconic ” Defy ” collection. Zenith presented five new models and six new models as part of the new collection series.
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New models for the pillars of Zenith's Manufacture!The Defy Collection, at the forefront of modern watchmaking
At this year’s LVMH Watch Week, Zenith is presenting a new addition to the multifaceted ” Defy ” collection. In addition to a skeletonized model in black and gold, a chronograph in black ceramic, and the first fully skeletonized tourbillon in rose gold, there is a new “Defy Skyline 36” and the “Defy Revival A3643,” a modern reinterpretation of the 1969 classic. The new collection is a modern reinterpretation of the 1969 masterpiece, the A3643. Built around light and shadow, geometry, innovative materials, and urban sensibilities, these timepieces combine the traditions of Le Locle with the modernity of a city like Milan, and clearly embody the ” Defy ” philosophy of conceiving the movement and exterior as a single unit.
More about the “Defy” collection
Benoit de Clercq, CEO of Zenith, said, “At the 7th LVMH Watch Week, Zenith is shining a light on the cornerstone of the Manufacture, the ” Defy ” collection, today. The collection continues to evolve and develop with new expressions that explore a variety of styles, complications, and materials: the “Defy Skyline,” a modern evolution of the first “Defy” launched in 1969, inherits the collection’s iconic geometry and durability, yet is architecturally modern and It is reimagined within a code. The aim was to highlight the extremely urban character of ” Defy ” design and to highlight the parallels between the two worlds of precision that construct space and time: the architect’s urban design and the watchmaker’s watchmaking. The watch became a metaphor for a miniature version of the city. Both the city and the watch, both its construction, use imagination, evolution, and know-how to give form to the invisible.” he said.
The Defy Skyline Skeleton
The new ” Defy Skyline Skeleton ” takes contemporary watch design to a new level with its open structure and geometric shapes. The skeletonized dial reveals the full extent of the El Primero 3620 SK caliber, whose contrast of light and shadow evokes the rhythm of an urban skyline. The 12-faceted bezel and sharply faceted case are reminiscent of the structural beauty of urban architecture, and the watch is a Zenith signature. The world’s only continuously running 1/10th of a second display, driven by a 5 Hz escapement, visualizes the constant pulse of the city. The integrated black ceramic bracelet and rubber strap and the quick-change mechanism ensure a high degree of practicality adapted to modern urban life.
More on the “Defy Skyline Skeleton.”
The Defy Skyline Chronograph combines the strength of ceramic with the precision of a chronograph
The “Defy Skyline Chronograph” clad in a full ceramic case in deep black. The newest model. Following the blue ceramic model unveiled last year to commemorate the company’s 160th anniversary, this new model has a bolder, more contemporary appearance thanks to its materials and deep black color. The entirely colored black ceramic, while lightweight and highly scratch-resistant, sculpturally accentuates the facets of the case and bracelet, creating a vivid architectural silhouette. The dial is decorated with a gradation of shades from the center to the periphery, while the star motif and concentric counters create an urban depth. At the heart of the watch is the El Primero 3600, a high-vibration chronograph with a 1/10th-second measurement that rotates once every 10 seconds and a 60-hour power reserve. A quick-change mechanism allows the wearer to choose between a ceramic bracelet and rubber strap, depending on the mood or occasion.
More about the “Defy Skyline Chronograph”
Zenith's latest Defy collection 3The Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton, the ultimate skeleton expression of structural beauty
With the Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton, transparency itself becomes watch construction, The “Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton” is the first skeleton model with a tourbillon in the collection, where transparency itself becomes the structure of the watch. The entirely visible El Primero movement is housed in a rose gold case with facets that catch the light and create reflections, giving the watch an architectural presence. The internal mechanisms are revealed in their purest form by opening up areas previously covered by a veil on a conventional dial, and the movement floating in the center is reminiscent of a mechanical skyline. The flange at the edge of the movement’s sole support pillar is set with hour markers, and the Zenith logo appears to float above the caliber on the sapphire crystal. The iconic star is set on a skeletonized baseplate, creating a design with depth and a three-dimensional effect.
The heart of the watch, the self-winding El Primero 3630 SK caliber movement, is finished in a powerful luminous blue. The enlarged, iconic Zenith Star becomes a structural motif and surrounds the tourbillon’s small window. The 41mm rose gold case is alternately satin-brushed and polished to give the watch an expression that changes with each movement of the wrist, while the double-layer bridges at 10 and 2 o’clock add depth and dynamism. This special model is limited to 50 pieces worldwide.
Details of the ” Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton “.
Created in 2022, the “Defy Skyline” was introduced in the late 1960s A contemporary reinterpretation of the pioneering design codes of the Defy, the collection embodies a dynamic and architectural spirit. Its design concept, which is in tune with contemporary lifestyles, has been highly acclaimed, and in a short period of time it has grown to become the core of Zenith’s existence. The collection continues to evolve with variations in size, materials, and design, and now the 36mm diameter “Defy Skyline 36” is available in two new models with sophisticated silver-tone dials. Two different styles are available, one with a minimalist look and the other with brilliant-cut diamonds.
The architectural design of the Defy Skyline in its purest form.Defy Skyline 36
The 36mm model is part of the lineage of the Defy Skyline, created in 2022. Styled after the deep blue, ice blue, pastel green, and pastel pink colors, this simple silver-tone model features a geometric pattern of stars on the dial, which, combined with the sharp 12-sided bezel, creates an urban look. Equipped with the automatic Caliber Elite 670, the watch is also water resistant to 10 bar and has a quick-change strap, ensuring practicality for everyday use. The result is a contemporary unisex model that combines minimalist beauty and functionality.
Details of the “Defy Skyline 36
The jewelry-oriented Skyline, enhanced by diamonds for elegance and ornamentation'Defy Skyline 36' diamond model
Based on the same 36mm case, this model features a bezel set with brilliant-cut diamonds. The model is an architectural shape of the ” Defy Skyline ” with a touch of glamorous elegance. The geometric motif of stars engraved on the silver-tone dial and the luminescent hands and indices are both legible and decorative. The watch’s basic features, such as the stable performance of the Elite 670, water resistance to 10 bar, and interchangeable bracelets and rubber straps, are retained, while the jewelry watch’s presence is clearly defined.
More on the ” Defy Skyline 36 ” diamond model.
The latest Defy Collection 5The Defy Revival A3643 revives the legendary design of 1969
In 2022, Zenith will launch the Defy Revival A3642, an exact reinterpretation of the original 1969 Defy, followed the next year by the 1971 Defy. The following year, the company rolled out a ruby-colored dial model that reissued the 1971 A3691. And at LVMH Watch Week 2026, LVMH presented the “Defy Revival A3643,” a reissue of another important piece from 1969, a turning point year that saw the birth of the El Primero and the introduction of the robust Defy with its octagonal case and 14-sided bezel. This watch reproduces that iconic design in a 37 mm steel case and a sophisticated silver-tone dial. The highly accurate redesigned dial, double-layered indexes, and striking orange accents on the seconds hand combine to make the watch both legible and dynamic. The see-through caseback, automatic Elite 670 and iconic ladder bracelet complete the fusion of heritage and modernity.
