Defy Skyline is equipped with an ice blue dial, bringing a sense of coolness to the upcoming hot summer.
Summer started just over a week ago, and if our readers live in Spain, you will experience a dramatic rise in temperatures. The temperature in Andalusia has reached 44.4°C and in Madrid it is 38°C today. Pardon the odd meteorological presentation, but in such hot temperatures, horologically speaking, the Antidote is a watch with a cool, icy blue dial that conjures up images of cool pools. As with fashion collections, many watch brands have jumped on the seasonal trend, with ice blue quickly establishing itself as the color of summer 2023. Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak, Bell & Ross’ BR 05 GMT, Omega’s Aqua Terra and Tissot’s PRX have had very satisfying results, and now Zenith dives into the icy blue waters with three new Defy Skylines .
The origins of the Defy Skyline can be traced back to 1902, when Zenith launched a powerful line of pocket watches called the Defi. In 1969, Zenith released the world’s first high-frequency chronograph movement – the El Primero – somewhat overshadowing the arrival of another called the Defy, which replaced the “i” with a “y”. The radical architecture of the Defy, often referred to as a "vault," is full of angles. Its octagonal 300m (and 600m) water-resistant case, 14-sided bezel, screw-down crown, and patented suspension and shock absorption system are hard to beat. Although the Royal Oak’s radical architecture has always been called the “precursor” of the luxury sports watch, it’s worth remembering that the Defy predated the Royal Oak by a full three years… food for thought. Relaunched in 2022 as Defy Revival 3642, it is the spiritual granddaddy of the taming Defy Skyline series, also launching in 2022.
The Defy Skyline is a milder version of the 1969 Defy. An understated and refined version of its rugged ancestor, it's a contender in the luxury sports watch segment but doesn't aspire to be a vintage remake. The 100m water-resistant case is available in 41mm and 36mm, and the base is still octagonal, but instead of the original 14 sides, the bezel has 12 sides. The dynamic structure of the case, with its vertical brushed and polished surfaces, is clearly borrowed from the 1969 Defy, but in a more modern, sleeker design.
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