A hundred in 2021, twice that in 2023. Zenith doubles up on the number of limited-edition pieces for a new release in collaboration with Time+Tide. Launched not quite a decade ago, in 2004, over 16,000 kilometres from Geneva, in Melbourne, Australia, the webzine has grown into an established and respected watch publication. Enough for Zenith to release a first limited edition, the Defy Classic Skeleton Night Surfer: so-named because its dial evokes the sky over the waves after sunset. Surfing (dare we say) on the success of this first edition, just hours before Dubai Watch Week, Zenith today takes the wraps off a second release: the Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero.
Not so classic
The clue is in the name. Firstly, this new edition drops the “Classic” label. The 2021 release was eye-catching, for sure, but classic none the less, with its three central hands and exposed date disk. The movement ran at a standard 4 Hz and power reserve was a respectable 50 hours.
Having ditched its “classic” side, the 2023 edition is edgier and more performance-focused. The sculptural dial, or what’s left of it after skeletonisation, forms a star with four branches that comes to life after dark thanks to the white luminescent lines that trace its geometry. Also, centre seconds have been replaced by small seconds at 6 o’clock.
A new engine
The second major difference is the movement. The 2021 edition was powered by the Elite calibre; the new version is driven by the El Primero, with a subsequent increase in frequency from 4 to 5 Hz and, consequently, 1/10th of a second accuracy. On the subject of frequency, the escapement is in silicon. You don’t have to be a watch nerd to appreciate the advantages of this: in a world full of magnets and electromagnetic coils (speakers, smartphones, tablets, even bag clasps), being able to leave your watch on a desk or at home without worrying about the movement becoming magnetised has very real benefits. As for power reserve, it gains ten hours, from 50 to 60 hours. The case stays the same: 41mm in microblasted titanium with a twelve-sided bezel.
New specs, new price
This new edition is fitted with a titanium bracelet, as was its predecessor, but ups the ante with the option of a rubber strap, featuring a star motif and folding clasp.
The movement upgrade and additional strap come at a price. From the initial CHF 8,900, the Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero gains CHF 3,000 at CHF 11,900. Available from the Time+Tide website and selected Zenith online stores.
