SpotlightA Star (Tourbillon) Is Born: Introducing The Zenith High-Frequency Defy Skyline Tourbillon

In just two years, the Zenith Defy Skyline series has become an integral part of the brand’s geometric collection of timepieces. With an octagonal case and 12-sided bezel, the Skyline’s dial invokes a starry sky, with its sunray brushed dial debossed with four pointed stars. Now, Zenith introduce a high frequency tourbillon into the Skyline series, its cage designed to resemble an openworked four-pointed star. The stars decorating the dial of the Zenith Defy Skyline Tourbillon radiate outward from the circular aperture at six o’clock, giving the impression of a rising sun, the sun being the tourbillon, and the stars its rays. To enhance this effect, the sunray brushing on the dial also originates from the tourbillon aperture. With this latest tourbillon addition to the Skyline series, the sporty and contemporary collection receives an animated update.

Rise Of The Zenith Defy Skyline

First introduced in 2022, the Defy Skyline captured the imagination of enthusiasts with its star-studded dial and small seconds sub-dial at nine. This was where the brand showcased their true prowess. Instead of taking one turn of the sub-dial in 60 seconds, the seconds hand takes 10 seconds for one revolution. Powered by the El Primero 3620 movement, the watch features the same 1/10th-of-a-second mechanism visible in Zenith’s chronograph watches. Only, on this timepiece, the dial is cleaner and more suited to daily use. In 2023, the brand released the Defy Skyline Skeleton, which displayed the workings of the high-frequency El Primero 3620 movement prominently through the dial.

Edgy, Everyday-Ready; Defy Skyline Tourbillon

The faceted 41mm cases of the Defy Skyline Tourbillon in stainless steel or black ceramic offer a water resistance of 100m, making these timepieces sturdy enough for daily use. Matching steel or black ceramic bracelets enhance the geometry of the watch with their angular finish. Offered with an additional blue or black rubber strap, the watches offer easy interchangeability. The sides of the dodecagonal bezel correspond with the hour markers on the dial, giving the angles a distinct purpose. A blue sunray-brushed dial offsets the steel watch, with rhodium plated hands and markers filled with Super-LumiNova for optimum legibility. The black ceramic timepiece features a black-toned sunray pattern, and gold-plated markers and hands filled with lume.

The facetted 41mm case of the Defy Skyline Tourbillon in black ceramic offers a water resistance of 100m, making this timepiece sturdy enough for daily use

Matching bracelets enhance the geometry of the Defy Skyline Tourbillon with their angular finish

Star-Shaped Centrepiece: Defy Skyline Tourbillon

At six o’clock on the dial is a one-minute tourbillon that doubles up as the small seconds sub-dial. One arm of the openworked four-handed, star shaped cage is coated in lume, and serves as the seconds hand. Animating the dial in more ways than one, the tourbillon is powered by the high-frequency automatic calibre El Primero 3630, which beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour, and offers a power reserve of 60 hours, although there is no 1/10th of a second displayed on this watch. It is the radial pattern of the stars that gives the dial a dynamic effect. Appearing like rays of the sun emanating from the circular opening at six o’clock, the four-pointed stars seem to acquire a new life on these dials. Add the sunray-brushed finish to the direction of the stars and the rays look complete. This adds an undeniable depth to the dial, giving the watch a distinct three-dimensional aesthetic.

Animating the dial of the Defy Skyline Tourbillon in more ways than one, the tourbillon is powered by the high-frequency automatic calibre El Primero 3630, which beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour, and offers a power reserve of 60 hours

Whether they look to their past for inspiration or step into the future with their innovations, Zenith always have something interesting to offer. With the Defy Skyline Tourbillon, the brand uphold their commitment to high-frequency watchmaking, with a stunning new design language that is as relevant as it is futuristic.