New Release: Zenith Defy Skyline Americas Limited Edition Watch

Zenith’s Defy Skyline collection is no stranger to special editions, be it for artists, watch blogs, cities, occasions or boutiques. Now the series welcomes its latest special edition, the limited edition Zenith Defy Skyline Americas, recently launched at the recent Salón Internacional Alta Relojería México (SIAR) watch fair. This Americas Defy Skyline is made of black ceramic and features green and gold accents. It is limited to 100 pieces and only available in North and South America.

In just a few years, the Defy Skyline – launched in 2022 as a modern reissue of the original 1969 Defy – has become a core collection for Zenith, comprising a generous selection of models in different materials, colorways and complications, but always with its signature dodecagonal shape Bezel and almost always powered by a high frequency movement from El Primero.

The Zenith Defy Skyline Americas features a 41mm black ceramic case and is water resistant to 100 meters. The usual 12-sided bezel and integrated bracelet are also made of black ceramic, creating an elegant and atmospheric silhouette in the images. Due to the hardness of ceramic, diamond-tipped tools are required for cutting and decorating. In true Defy Skyline form, the case’s sharp lines, facets, angles and a mix of brushed and polished areas ensure that plenty of light is still reflected on the otherwise dark surface.

Contrasting the monotone exterior is the two-tone dial with a deep green sunburst background and engraved rose gold-colored stars. Above this background are a pair of rose gold-plated hands in the center, a small seconds dial at 9 o’clock, a date window at 3 o’clock and rose gold-plated faceted hour markers. The rose gold-framed date window features a green disc that ensures color coordination with the rest of the dial. In case you didn’t know, the Starry Night pattern found on most Defy Skyline models is inspired by the “double Z” symbol found on the casebacks of old-school Zenith Defy watches.

Like other Defy Skyline models with time and date displays, Zenith’s limited edition Defy Skyline Americas runs on Zenith’s in-house 5 Hz El Primero 3620 movement with a 60-hour power reserve and a 1/10th of a second display as a fast second hand on the subdial at 9 o’clock makes a full revolution every 10 seconds. Although no photos of the movement were available at the time of publication, Zenith says the star-shaped rotor is blackened.

In addition to the black ceramic strap, the watch also features a second dark green rubber strap decorated with the same four-pointed stars found on the dial. The clasp is made of blackened stainless steel and the bracelet’s quick-change mechanism is integrated directly into the caseback, making it easy to switch between the two options.

Only 100 examples of the Zenith Defy Skyline Americas watch (Ref. 49.9308.3620/56.I001) will be manufactured, available exclusively in online boutiques and authorized retailers in North and South America. Interestingly, the price is exclusive to America $15,500 is identical to the regular, non-limited black ceramic Defy Skyline watch in the current Zenith catalog. For more information, visit the brand’s website.