Zenith Defy

Airy and Light: Zenith Gets Ready for Summer with Defy Skyline White Ceramic Skeleton

In 2022, Zenith unveiled its vision of a contemporary luxury sports watch with the Defy Skyline. Based on a historic model from 1969 in the original Defy, the form of the modern watch combines an unmistakable design with the functionality and sophistication of the legendary El Primero high-frequency caliber updated with a unique 1/10th-second sub-dial. Today,...

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Jul 12, 2024 by Sabine Zwettler

It’s Time – WatchTime New York 2024 Tickets On Sale Now!

After an incredible show in 2023, WatchTime New York, the premier collector’s event in North America, is set to return to Manhattan from October 18th to 20th, 2024. WatchTime New York 2024 promises to be even more spectacular, with the show marking the 25th anniversary of WatchTime and bringing together the world’s finest watchmakers, timepieces,...

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Jun 20, 2024 by WatchTime

The Zenith Defy Extreme: A Dive Into the Watchmaker’s Past and Future at Watches and Wonders

It was about time that Zenith finally completed its current collection with a watch that deserved to be called a diver: After a comparatively long hiatus, the Swiss brand has returned to “the deepest depths with the new Defy Extreme Diver, as well as a remake of one of the most sought-after vintage Zenith diver’s watches, the...

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Apr 14, 2024 by Roger Ruegger

Exploring Watch Shades of Red

This article was originally published in the July/August 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine. A watch with a sunset on the dial? Oh yes, right here. Zenith brought it to market as the Defy Midnight Sunset. Surrounded by a diamond-studded bezel, the dial of this 36mm steel watch shines with gradient color ranging from...

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Apr 2, 2024 by Maria-Bettina Eich

Testing Speed with the Zenith Defy Extreme

This article was originally published in the May/June 2022 Issue of the WatchTime print magazine. Zenith built the El Primero, the world’s most accurate chronograph, in 1969. But now the manufacture has increased its beat frequency from 1/10 to 1/100 of a second. We took a look at what the fastest mechanical watch can do with its...

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Mar 16, 2024 by Jens Koch

Zenith Extends Defy Skyline Collection with Ice Blue Dials

Zenith unveils three new boutique-exclusive editions of the DEFY Skyline in 41mm and 36mm, each with metallic ice-blue dials. Their sunray-brush finish is enhanced by the brand’s hallmark pattern of four pointed-stars. Each case is water-resistant to 100 meters and distinguished by the signature dodecagonal bezel, directly inspired by the earliest DEFY wristwatches from 1969....

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Jul 25, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler

Zenith Drops Defy Skyline in Black Ceramic

Special surface structures, decorations, and finishes add a distinctive edge and a high degree of recognizability to any dial. This year, we saw an abundance of expressive patterns distinguishing the latest line-ups of high horology brands. Among them is Zenith’s Defy Skyline Black Ceramic which was unveiled with a magnificent black ceramic exterior at Watches...

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May 23, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler

A Second Look: Zenith Embraces the Arctic with DEFY Extreme Glacier (With Hands-On Photos)

Photography by Bilal Khan. With its glaciers, ice floes, and snow-covered mountains, the awe-inspiring arctic has provided inspiration for many creative endeavors, with one of the latest examples being the DEFY Extreme Glacier from Zenith. To achieve the dynamic glacial-inspired model, the brand makes use of semi-precious chalcedony stone that mimics the appearance of ice. ...

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Mar 9, 2023 by Caleb Anderson

Delightfully Defy: Zenith Launches Unlimited Revival Edition

With the Defy Revival A3691, Zenith adds another chapter to its Defy story. The faithful reproduction of one of the first Defy wristwatches from 1971, it is the second revival edition of this collection that premiered in 1969. The three-hand plus date model comes in the signature octagonal stainless steel case with a 14-sided bezel....

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Feb 3, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler

Zenith Launches Defy Skyline Boutique Edition

At this year’s LVMH Watch Week, which took place in Singapore from January 10 to 12, Zenith’s Defy line took center stage. Among the four new models the time-honored Swiss brand introduced to this family, the Defy Skyline Boutique Edition is a picture-perfect contemporary luxury sports watch. Debuting in a 41mm octagonal steel case with...

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Jan 17, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler

Zenith Introduces Colorful Defy Skyline with a Scaled-Down Case at LVMH Watch Week

For most enthusiasts, the fascination of mechanical wristwatches comes from perfection of the form. From the numerals and indices to the hands, indications, and virtually all parts – fans and aficionados are captivated by the perfect balance of both aesthetics and performance. Such a harmonious appeal stems from precisely calculated proportions that are matched to...

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Jan 10, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler

Zenith Introduces Defy Extreme Glacier at LVMH Watch Week

Following the Defy Extreme Desert launched in 2021, Zenith is traveling to the opposite kind of landscape for its second edition, the Defy Extreme Glacier. Parts of the 45-mm and 20 bar pressure resistant titanium case, such as the pusher guards and the dodecagonal bezel, are crafted from chalcedony. This crystalline semi-translucent stone has a...

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Jan 10, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler

Two is Better Than One: Zenith Introduces Defy Extreme Double Tourbillon

With the Defy Extreme Tourbillon, Zenith launches its most advanced and complicated chronograph movement to date. This high-frequency haute horlogerie chronograph beats at the rate of 360’000 VpH and can thus measure the 1/100th of a second. It is also equipped with two independent tourbillon mechanisms. While the one in charge for the time keeping...

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Jan 4, 2023 by Sabine Zwettler

Zenith Introduces the Defy Skyline, with Another Variation on the El Primero Caliber

With the recent release of its Defy Revival A3642, Zenith hinted that it would be turning the spotlight on its avant-garde Defy collection, at least in the early part of 2022, after a 2021 filled with interesting variations on its Chronomaster line. The main event occurred at the kickoff of the virtual LVMH Watch Week...

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Jan 24, 2022 by Mark Bernardo

Zenith Raids its 1969 “Bank Vault” for New, Vintage-Inspired Defy Revival A3642

The year 1969 was a pivotal one for Swiss watchmaker Zenith, which famously introduced its history-making, high-frequency chronograph caliber, the El Primero, to a worldwide audience in January of that year. The El Primero and the Chronomaster watches in which it was first installed have largely defined Zenith’s identity since then, but another important branch...

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Jan 17, 2022 by Mark Bernardo

Defiant Transparency: Zenith’s Defy Zero-G and Defy 21 Double Tourbillon Sapphire Editions

On the heels of copping the Chronograph Watch Prize at the 2021 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie Genève for its boldly dynamic Chronomaster Sport, Zenith returned to its avant-garde Defy collection, namely two of its most highly complicated denizens, to introduce its first sapphire-cased watches since 2014’s wildly experimental Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu. Here is what...

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Dec 8, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

Darker is Lighter: Reviewing the Zenith Defy Classic Carbon

With the Defy Classic Carbon, Zenith shoots for design boldness, lightweight comfort, and unprecedented price accessibility. We gave the watch a test run and got some insight into its origins from Zenith’s CEO. Zenith celebrated its most historically significant anniversary in years in 2019, marking 50 years of El Primero, the automatic, high frequency chronograph...

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Nov 15, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

Bigger Case, Deeper Dive Rating, and Three New Colorways: This is the Zenith Defy Extreme (with Hands-on Photos)

Today at Watches & Wonders, Zenith unveiled the latest extension of its cutting-edge, “resolutely futuristic” Defy collection, called Defy Extreme. The new collection, which the manufacture describes as “all-terrain 1/100th of a second chronograph[s],” encompasses three models and essentially represents the most supercharged version of the Defy, with a larger and more accentuated silhouette to...

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Apr 9, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

LVMH Watch Week: Zenith Embraces Emerald with the Defy 21 Urban Jungle

LVMH Watch Week kicks off today, and following right on the heels of the attention-grabbing Chronomaster Sport and Revival A385, one of the three presenting maisons, Zenith, has unveiled the latest eye-popping addition to its avant-garde Defy line, the new Defy 21 Urban Jungle. Dressed in dark green tones, the model, as its name implies,...

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Jan 25, 2021 by Caleb Anderson