Zenith updates its Skyline and Skyline Skeleton Black Ceramic watches

Zenith will add the Skyline to its Defy collection in early 2022, replacing the Defy Classic as its three-hand sports watch offering. While the shape of the Skyline alludes to the Defy's 1969 origins, the Defy Revival is the brand's faithful re-edition of the watch. The Defy Skyline is a very modern watch. With these two new Watches and Wonders 2023 models, Zenith takes the Skyline's contemporary style a few steps further, presenting its sharp edges and facets and integrated bracelet in black ceramic.

Brand: Zenith
Model: Defy Skyline and Defy Skyline Skeleton Black Ceramic
Dimensions: 41mm
Water resistance: 100 meters
Case Material: Ceramic
Crystal/Lens: Sapphire Crystal
Movement: El Primero 3620
Frequency: 5Hz
Power reserve: 60 hours
Strap/Bracelet: Black ceramic bracelet and black rubber strap with stainless steel clasp

The Defy's angular case shape stands out against the all-black design, giving the watch a more menacing look. Zenith uses diamond tools to cut the sharp lines and to brush some of the flat surfaces. While more challenging to complete, the hardness of the ceramic is an advantage once the watch is complete. That means sharp bezels and intricate bracelets are better able to withstand light abuse than their metal counterparts.

In addition to a ceramic H-link bracelet with a folding clasp, the Defy Skyline Black Ceramic model also comes with a sporty black rubber strap. The molded starry sky pattern lends it visual interest, and the quick-release system makes it easy to switch between either option. The deployant buckle is made of stainless steel but is coated in black PVD to match.

One of the signature features of the Defy Skyline is the dial, whether closed or openworked. Like the steel Skyline, the Black Ceramic's dial features a geometric pattern consisting of four-pointed Zenith stars that repeat across the dial. On the black ceramic version, this motif is combined with a black galvanic dial with a sunray finish. It is sure to create interesting visual appeal when the light hits it at different angles. Zenith says it is reminiscent of a starry night sky.

However, if visual appeal is what you're after, consider the skeletonized version in Defy Skyline Black Ceramic. Its open dial features a large black central four-pointed star element, revealing the skeletonized movement with blacked bridges and mainplate. Visible escapement, beating at 5 Hz, made of purple silicon.

Both versions feature faceted, polished and rhodium-plated hands and hour-markers filled with white Super-LumiNova C1. This provides a bit of light to the otherwise stark dial, which should prove to be extremely legible, day or night.

Zenith's in-house El Primero 3620 movement powers both the black ceramic Defy Skyline and the steel versions. The specifications are the same, but the seconds hand on the Skeleton version has been moved from 9 o'clock to 6 o'clock. An interesting move, but in both cases it's aesthetically better positioned in my opinion. As with previous watches with this movement, the small hand makes a revolution every 10 seconds, not 60 seconds. It'll spin for 60 hours in full wind, and because it's an El Primero, ticks 10 times a second (36,000 times/hour) at the same time.

After seeing the exposure of this watch, I feel that the black ceramic is perfect for Defy Skyline. It looks very different from the steel version and offers a very interesting option.