At the beginning of January, the LVMH Group Watch Week was held in Singapore. The four leading houses of the Group in the field of watchmaking were present here. Zenith – Together with Bulgari, Hublot and TAG Heuer, they have unveiled their first “bakery” of new models for 2023. They all represented a sporty aesthetic (simply automatic or chronographs) with innovative designs, excellent movements and belong to the famous DEFY collection that stands behind its elegant and dynamic lines. The hugely successful DEFY Skyline series was expanded this year with the DEFY Skyline Skeleton, a modern version of the skeleton watch, new unisex models with a 36 mm diameter and a pastel dial, and the first DEFY model. Skyline Boutique Edition. For lovers of chronographs, the offer is called DEFY Extreme Glacier and is about a rugged watch built for heavy duty use in extreme conditions. And before the curtain falls on LVMH Watch Week 2023, Zenith also unveiled two historically important DEFY models that will delight collectors and lovers of historical heritage and vintage aesthetics. Let’s get to know them.

ZENITH THROW Horizon Skeleton

This new skeleton watch with a sturdy 41mm steel case features an industrial-style dial with four-pointed star bridges, reminiscent of the double Z logo used by Zenith in the 1960s. Two central hands are coated with luminous Super-LumiNova. be visible even in the dark, a feature that designers usually sacrifice in skeleton watches. On a separate dial 1/10^you second hand in position 6, the corresponding second hand constantly “works”, making one revolution every 10 seconds.

The “skeletal” dial in black or blue is in harmony with the base, star-shaped rotor and movement bridges of the same color. Satin and polished textures best emphasize the dots and lines of the case, bezel and bracelet. The watch is water resistant to 100 meters and is equipped with a “multi-turn” automatic movement produced by El Primero Caliber 3620 SK, which “beats” at a frequency of 5 Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour) and provides 60 hours of battery life.

ZENITH DEFY Skyline 36 mm

The Skyline collection debuted only last year, but today it has already managed to become one of the “strong cards” of Zenith. In 2023, he acquired another one – the average size, 36 mm, which can be worn equally by men and women.

There are three colors to choose from for the watch face. The first is the same metallic blue we saw last year on the 41mm Skyline.

The other two, pastel pink or light green, are the boldest shades we’ve seen in the DEFY line since 1969. They are based on metal that is polished and then satin-finished and engraved with four-pointed stars to make them sparkle. a modern reworking of the old Zenith double Z logo from the 1960s.

Inside the dodecagonal bezel, the minute markers are subtly visible on the uniform inner slanted bezel, and the date disc is in the same color tone as the dial. The DEFY Skyline watch is also available in precious versions with diamonds on the bezel.

It is water-resistant to 100 meters and hides inside the in-house automatic movement Elite 670 with an energy reserve of 50 hours.

And thanks to the quick-change strap system, the wearer can easily replace the steel bracelet with an ergonomic colored rubber strap that matches the color of the dial.

ZENITH DEFY Skyline Boutique Edition

Available only online and in exclusive Zenith boutiques worldwide, this new member of the DEFY Skyline family features a 41mm diameter, steel case and bracelet, and a distinctive charcoal gray dial with rose gold details. This warm metal is used for the applied hour markers, hands and date bezel, as well as the characteristic engraved Zenith four-pointed star pattern. It’s like seeing stars shining in the night sky.

Inside there is an El Primero 3620 automatic machine, operating at a frequency of 5 Hz, has a unique 1/10 rate. the second and offers 60 hours of battery life. The DEFY Skyline Boutique Edition is worn on the wrist with a steel bracelet and comes with a second black rubber strap that can be easily changed thanks to the special Zenith system.

ZENITH DEFY Extreme Glacier

“Branded” chronograph also has its own characteristics. Designed for outdoor use, even in extreme conditions, hence the name Extreme, the El Primero 1/100 movement with the highest performance.^th, which measures with an accuracy of one centimeter per second, but also the use of natural stone in its construction. The glacier-inspired design features a solid titanium case, an integral part of which is the dodecagonal bezel base in chalcedony, a pale blue crystalline translucent stone. The bases of the two pushers of the chronograph are also made from the same material. Each stone is meticulously cut and polished by hand, and because each one has a slightly different “water” and hue, each of the 50 collectibles of this watch is one of a kind.

In the same vein, the “open”, translucent dial, through which you can admire the microcosm of the automatic movement, which has two regulating instruments: the first touches the chronograph function and beats at a frequency of 50 Hz, and the second touches the timing and beats at a frequency of 5 Hz. The chronograph counters are made of sapphire crystal with a special finish that makes them look like thin ice flakes.

The DEFY Extreme Glacier watch has a titanium bracelet and two additional straps: one in strong black velcro and one in white rubber. Changing them is very easy thanks to the quick change mechanism on the back of the case.

ZENITH DEFY Revival A3691

In 2022, Zenith introduced a revival of its first DEFY model. A year later, they return with the DEFY Revival A3691, a replica of the iconic 1971 A3691. They even take it one step further by choosing a vibrant red color for their watch face.

It features a 37mm polyhedral octagonal steel case, a 14-sided bezel, a dark red dial that darkens towards the periphery, unusual applied square hour markers with horizontal serrations, and the iconic Gay Frères stepped steel bracelet paired with a modern buckle. .

The only differences from the original model are the sapphire crystal, the type of material used, and the transparent case back of the watch, from which you can admire the in-house Elite 670 automatic movement at 4 Hz (28,800 alternations per hour). ) and 50 hours of battery life. In addition, the watch is water resistant to a depth of 300 meters. Unlike the 2022 DEFY Revival A3642, which was a numbered collector’s edition, the new DEFY Revival A3691 is not a limited edition, part of the permanent DEFY collection and is available from both exclusive Zenith boutiques and select jewelers.

ZENITH DEFY Revival A3690 Boutique version

The second historical remake concerns a model first put on the market in 1970. The A3690 was one of the first DEFYs to feature striking dials, which was unprecedented and innovative at the time. In fact, Zenith was one of the first watch companies to have models with colored gradient dials in their collection already in the 1960s. In the 1970s, the company added even brighter colors such as the dark red DEFY Revival A3691 shown above and the tropical blue DEFY A3690.

A true revival, the A3690 features the familiar 37mm multifaceted steel octagonal case, iconic 14-sided bezel, turquoise gradient dial with rhodium-plated hour markers and three central hands, sapphire crystal, and ELITE hidden inside. 670 automatic.

They wrap around the wrist with Gay Frères’ signature stepped steel bracelet and are water-resistant to a depth of 300 meters. Available in exclusive and online Zenith boutiques.

You will find Zenith watches in authorized stores and on www.zenithwatches.com