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Zenith has once again partnered with the Australian watch media website Time+Tide on a limited edition Defy. The third watch in the trilogy, which follows the Defy Classic Skeleton Night Surfer from 2021 and the Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero in 2023 completes the concept of the “Surfer Trilogy” with a bold white ceramic case that incorporates design details from each of the previous watches. It’s definitely an aesthetic change of pace, but taken together, all three watches make a lot of sense as a trio. Prior “Surfer” limited editions have sold out quickly, so if you were after one and missed out, you now have another (final?) chance to snag one.
Each of the previous limited edition Defys in the “Surfer” series have been in micro-blasted titanium cases, making the white ceramic here a stark contrast. Ceramic, though, is arguably the material most associated with the contemporary Defy, whether in the now discontinued Classic line or the new Skyline series. Zenith is one of a small handful of brands that has reached true expert status with this material. Like other Skylines, the case measures 41mm in diameter and is 100 meters water resistant with a screw down crown.
We’ve seen a white ceramic Skyline before, but this new Time+Tide LE, even with a case that has so much presence, is really defined by the dial. That blue gradient dial is the design element that is carried over from prior “Surfer” watches and provides some coherence to the series. It appears to be a lighter shade of blue on the new watch than previous LEs, which makes sense given the stark white case. White and blue is a great combination and the lighter dial really helps to soften the whole presentation. This is a summer watch through and through.
The watch runs on the El Primero 3620 SK caliber. While we’ve all gotten used to this movement since the introduction of the Skyline, it’s worth pointing out that it’s still kind of a strange and unique caliber that’s quite unlike anything made by Zenith’s direct competitors. Derived from the high frequency El Primero chronograph calibers, this is a time only movement that retains a 5Hz beat rate. This is effectively proven through the small seconds indicator at the 6:00 position, which is driven directly from the movement’s escapement. That means that instead of seeing that hand make a full rotation every minute, it’s actually counting off each tenth of a second. I’ve had a chance to review earlier versions of the Skyline with the same 1/10th second hand, and while it takes a little getting used to, eventually it just kind of becomes part of the experience of wearing the watch. Like the skeletonized dial, the movement’s mainplate, bridges, and rotor have all been given a blue finish.
The new Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic comes mounted to a matching white ceramic bracelet, and a white rubber strap is included in the package as well. This is a limited edition of 100 pieces, and will go on sale July 9 at 7:00 PM eastern time. The retail price is $19,600. Zenith
