Zenith follows up on its 160th anniversary commemorative bright-blue ceramic variant of the Defy Skyline Chronograph, launched last year, by presenting a new interpretation, this time entirely in black ceramic. The Defy Skyline Chronograph Black Ceramic is just the second wholly ceramic Defy Skyline Chronograph that the Le Locle-based watch brand has unveiled, which points to an exciting future of material exploration for the comparatively young Defy Skyline collection.

In fact, a trio of Defy Classic sports watches presented in 2019 came in cases of black, white or blue ceramic, paired with matching bracelets in rubber – suggesting that high-tech materials are permeating through the Defy Skyline collection just as they did in the case of its siblings in the Defy family. (The Defy Skyline Chronograph Black Ceramic is not the only ceramic novelty that Zenith presented at this LVMH Watch Week either: The 41mm Defy Skyline Skeleton complements its black-ceramic case and bracelet with gold-toned openwork.)

Not merely covered by a topical coating but coloured throughout its material, the scratch-resistant
black ceramic lends visual depth and moody dynamism to the sleek composition. A fumé radial-gradient dial ina lighter tone adds a touch of contrast with the brushed and polished 42mm case and integrated two-link bracelet, while the distinctive dial engraved with a pattern composed of small four-point stars, a characteristic feature of non-skeletonised Defy Skyline models, and the snailed chronograph counters enhance the interplay between light and shadow. Accents of red on the 1/10th of a second central chronograph hand, the 60-minute hand at 6 o’clock, and the 60-second hand at 3 o’clock stand out against the monochrome tableau.

Underneath the starry-night dial decoration resides the El Primero 3600 automatic chronograph movement, which operates at a beat rate of 5Hz and offers a 60- hour power reserve. The latest version of the El Primero movement, it affords 1/10th of a second indication, and through past updates has seen its power reserve climb to its current level. A sapphire-crystal caseback offers a clear view of the blued column-wheel and the rotor shaped like Zenith’s five-point-star emblem. A quick strap-change mechanism and an included black rubber strap make for a vastly versatile Defy Skyline Chronograph Black Ceramic.

MOVEMENT: Self-winding El Primero calibre 3600 with chronograph and date; 60-hour power reserve
CASE: 42mm in black ceramic; water-resistant to 100m
STRAP: Ceramic bracelet or rubber
PRICE: $28,500

This story was first seen as part of the WOW #83 Spring 2025 Issue

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