Le Locle, Switzerland and Ventura, California, November 19, 2024: Collective Horology and ZENITH come together once again to produce an exclusive limited edition of the DEFY Skyline, reinterpreting it as a holistic piece of 20th century industrial design with a “less is more” approach.
For collectors, by collectors. What began in 2018 as a community centered around the development of collaborative watches has burgeoned into an established and reputed watch retailer focused on independent manufactures. In addition to its retail business, Collective continues to release collaborative watches and publishes one of the leading watch podcasts in the United States: Openwork: A Look Inside the Watch Industry. With a focus on customer service and experience, Collective Horology has reached watch aficionados around the world with its passion for independent watchmaking and its coveted collaborations. The very first of these projects was the ZENITH Chronomaster El Primero C.01 x Collective, a limited edition commissioned by the group with a sharp and minimalistic aesthetic. Now, for Collective’s tenth collaborative series, ZENITH was once again called upon to reimagine one of its modern icons in the making. Introducing the DEFY C.X Edition, a limited run of 200 pieces that completely reinterprets the staple model.
With its sharp architectural lines and unmistakable silhouette, the DEFY Skyline serves as a modern successor to the very first ZENITH DEFY wristwatch model from 1969, bringing its reputed ruggedness and durability into a much more contemporary design and equipped with the latest generation of the El Primero automatic manufacture movement. Exceptionally for the DEFY Skyline C.X Edition, the faceted steel case as well as the interchangeable integrated steel bracelet are given an entirely sandblasted matte finish, with just the side of the dodecagonal bezel in a polished finish. This is echoed by the polished side of the case back, mirroring the finish of the bezel’s edge. The result is bold yet understated, giving it an air of industrial design.
Continuing the theme of functional simplicity, the design as well as the layout of the dial have been redefined for the DEFY Skyline C.X Edition. In a matte silvery-grey colour, the DEFY Skyline’s signature starry sky pattern dial has been rendered more three-dimensional, with a gradient effect achieved by the four-pointed stars being engraved deeper in the centre and gradually shallower towards the outer edges of the dial. Instead of having the 1/10th of a second indicator – the only such complication in the world of watchmaking – at 9 o’clock, opposite the date window at 3 o’clock as in the standard DEFY Skyline models, the C.X Edition omits the date window completely and moves the 1/10th of a second counter to 6 o’clock for a more balanced and symmetrical look. The tip of the orange 1/10th of a second hand as well as the “10” mark are done in a highly legible orange tone, adding to the 20th century industrial design inspiration.
The DEFY Skyline C.X Edition is powered by a modified version of the El Primero 3620 automatic high-frequency calibre, visible through the sapphire display back. It features a 1/10th of a second indicator at 6 o’clock that’s driven directly by the 5Hz escapement. When fully wound, it provides a power reserve of approximately 55 hours and is endowed with a stop-second mechanism for precise time-setting. Complementing the subtle orange accents on the dial, the DEFY Skyline Collective comes with an orange textured rubber strap with a steel folding clasp, in addition to the steel bracelet. They can be easily swapped without any tools using the case’s ingenious quick strap-change mechanism on the case back.
The DEFY Skyline C.X Edition is limited to a total of 200 pieces and is available exclusively through Collective Horology and the ZENITH online boutique. The watch will also be available in physical boutiques starting from December 19th.
