Inside The New ZENITH DEFY Collection: A Study In Structure, Light And Modern Design

This year, ZENITH expands the DEFY universe with a line-up of new timepieces that further sharpen the collection’s distinctive identity. The range spans from the dramatic black-and-gold DEFY Skyline Skeleton and a bold new DEFY Skyline Chronograph rendered in black ceramic, to a significant milestone for the line: the first-ever DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton, presented in a fully openworked rose-gold execution. The collection is rounded out by refined updates to the DEFY Skyline 36 and the DEFY Revival A3643, a contemporary reimagining of one of the original DEFY references from 1969.

Together, these new models express the many dimensions of the DEFY philosophy through contrasts of light and shadow, strong geometric lines, innovative materials and an unmistakably urban character. While firmly rooted in ZENITH’s manufacturing heritage in Le Locle, the collection draws inspiration from the energy and modernity of cities such as Milano, where architecture, design and rhythm coexist in constant motion.

Each DEFY timepiece is conceived as a complete and cohesive whole, with the movement and exterior design developed side by side. This integrated approach mirrors the way a city takes shape through the balance of structure, space and tempo. Sharp facets, architectural silhouettes and openworked constructions define the collection, echoing the precision and creativity of metropolitan landscapes and reinforcing the DEFY line’s vision of contemporary watchmaking as a form of living architecture.