A New Cityscape Rises: Zenith’s Latest Defy Skyline Models from LVMH Watch Week
A hands-on review of Zenith’s new offerings reveals some “urban development” that leans into the popular models’ obvious architecturally flavored references, telling a story not only of varied materials but also of the Defy Skyline’s artfully flexible blueprint.
By Mike Espindle
Executive Editor
My European Watchonista colleagues did some very laudable work in Milan during LVMH Watch Week 2026 in Milan earlier this week. However, LVMH graciously arranged special presentations stateside for some of its watch brands just a few days ago, giving North American press a chance to check out these timepieces in the metal. Among the watches presented was the latest Defy Skyline models from Le Locle-based maison Zenith.
To cut to the chase: five new iterations use a variety of materials, movement approaches, colorways, and complications to showcase the models’ inherent structural beauty, first seen when the Skyline was revealed as part of the Defy collection’s revival in 2022. Let’s take a look-see.
Black Buildings
An urbane, modern black ceramic touch unites two of the new timepieces, but the pair quickly diverges in intent and design as options create very individual points of appeal.
In the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph, the power of the El Primero 3600 automatic chronograph movement, and its signature 1/10-of-a-second chronograph, comes into particular play. With a triple sub-dial approach (60-second counter at 3 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock, and 60-minute tallier at 9 o’clock), this new timepiece presents as an iconic modern sport chronograph in every respect.
Fortunately, Zenith avoided the facile temptation to make it an all-black execution by outfitting this model with a starry, shimmering gradient grey dial that makes it a stand-out on the wrist.
For the 41mm three-handed Defy Skyline Skeleton, the black ceramic edifice is contrasted with an artful, gold-tone skeletonized dial, offering a terrific “city view” of the El Primero 3620 SK automatic movement. Yet even the skeletonization carries deft architectural notes of balance and solidity, allowing for a lovely window into the 1/10th-of-a-second counter at 6 o’clock.
Golden Heights
Gleaming rose gold with a geometric (yet somehow more fluid-looking_ dial skeletonization design and a fascinating 5 Hz one-minute tourbillon define the towering 41mm Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton, making it the first tourbillon skeleton in the Defy collection, and limited to just 50 examples.
Bi-color blue PVD and metallic rhodium-plated plates and bridges enhance the more angular skeletonized dial work and give the wearer a dynamic top-down view into the El Primero 3630 SK movement, which provides 50 hours of power reserve.
Meanwhile, the tourbillon and cage are beautifully anchored at 6 o’clock by a more classically inspired golden horizontal bridge, making for an exquisite foundation for this structure.
Steel Power, and Purity
The case of Zenith’s new steel Defy Skyline 36 clocks in at a smaller 36mm, yet it has a distinct, simplified appeal that makes it closer to the core of the Skyline design zeitgeist and remarkably gender-neutral for the wearer. Of course, there is a bezel-set diamond version with 52 brilliant-cut stones that offers some additional eye appeal, but it certainly does not overpower the overall effect.
For this piece, an appropriately more compact Elite 670 automatic movement delivers 50 hours of power reserve, while the silver-tone sunray-patterned dial with a starry motif similar to the Defy Skyline Chronograph’s dial above creates a clean time-telling surface, with the minimalist hands and single-stroke index markers only being slightly broken up by a small date aperture at 3 o’clock.
Elevator Going Up!
Officially debuted in Milan, these new Zenith Defy Skyline timepieces are available as you read this at the following price points: $23,600 for the black-ceramic Defy Skyline Chronograph; $18,900 for the black-ceramic Defy Skyline Skeleton; $103,700 for the limited-edition rose gold Defy Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton; $9,400 for the steel Defy Skyline 36; and $13,300 for the steel Defy Skyline 36 with diamonds.
For more information, visit Zenith’s website.