Russell Sheldrake
Zenith introduces the first Defy Skyline Chronograph with a skeletonised dial.?The brand is keeping the same El Primero 3600 calibre, but doing away with the date window at 4:30.?It’s available in both a black and blue dial colour, both priced at US$15,500.It’s no secret we’re big fans of skeletonised Zenith watches here at Time+Tide. We’ve made two of them already with our Night Surfer and Night Surfer El Primero, so when we see a new line of cut-out dials from the fully integrated manufacturer, we get a little excited. Here we have the first skeletonised Defy Skyline Chronographs in the modern collection, bringing the chronograph family in line with the time-only line in the catalogue.This new watch makes the most of two key factors at Zenith. Firstly, their specialisation in skeletonising a watch, and secondly, their exceptional high-frequency movements. The El Primero 3600 was originally presented in 2019 to mark 50 years of the historic El Primero movement. Beating at 5Hz means that it is able to measure time in 1/10th of a second, as its central second hand completes a single revolution of the newly cut-out dial every 10 seconds, rather than the conventional 60. Having the dial opened up in this way might be the best way to admire the whizzing works of the El Primero. While we can get used to seeing a calibre from the display caseback, having a view from the top can elevate your appreciation for something so complex and intricate.While the dial has been cut away, Zenith has stayed true to the precedent set by its previous skeletonised dials, doing away with the date window. While any date window can be contentious, it could be argued the 4:30-positioned one on the El Primero is legendary, and a great way to identify this distinct calibre. However, getting rid of it here makes the skeletonisation work even better, as it doesn’t disrupt the considered lines and angles being created, and the same goes for the El Primero 3600 beneath.The rest of this watch is pretty much unchanged, with the angular case topped by the twelve-sided bezel that draws its inspiration directly from the Defy models of the late ’60s. The sloped pushers align perfectly with the faceted case, and the screw-down crown-ensured 100 metres of water resistance. The case still measures 42mm across and comes on a tapered steel bracelet, with a rubber strap also included that matches the colour of the dial.Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton pricing and availabilityThe Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton is available now from the brand and its retailers. Price: US$15,500BrandZenithModelDefy Skyline Chronograph SkeletonReference03.9500.3600/78.I00103.9500.3600/79.I001Case Dimensions42mm (D) x 12.7mm (T)Case materialStainless steelWater Resistance100 metres, screw-down crownCrystal(s)Sapphire front and backDialBlack or blue, openLug WidthIntegratedBracelet and strapSteel bracelet, folding claspAdditional colour-matched rubber strap, steel folding claspMovementEl Primero 3600SK, in-house, automatic, 5HzPower Reserve60 hoursFunctionsHours, minutes, small seconds, 1/10th second chronographAvailabilityNowPriceUS$15,500
22.01.25