ZENITH looks to the sky, and to the past, with their new collections

Taking on many forms over the years in a balancing act between heritage and modernism, the ZENITH Pilot collection is the Manufacture’s most long-standing line, and one that never ceases to beguile seasoned watch aficionados as well as avid aviation enthusiasts. The latest chapter caters to the pilot spirit in each of us, seeking the freedom to dream and the space to constantly rise above our limits and the world around us.

Entirely redesigned from scratch, the all-new Pilot collection foregoes the vintage aesthetic for something that draws inspiration from the entire span of aviation – past and present. It is imbued with all the essential features of durability, legibility and intuitiveness, respecting the codes of Pilot watches that ZENITH largely defined over a century ago with some of the earliest recorded aviator clocks and dashboard instruments, now revisited in a more contemporary context with some added ZENITH flair and understated nods to the world of aviation.

For its latest addition to the DEFY Revival collection, ZENITH imagines an alternate possibility for the very first DEFY silhouette from 1969 in a decidedly modern and stealthy rendition. While there is some historical precedent for blacked-out ZENITH watches, which the manufacture produced in very small numbers as working prototypes as far as back as 1970, the DEFY Revival Shadow is a modern creation in a vintage silhouette. In the same vein as the Chronomaster Revival Shadow that precedes it, the DEFY Revival Shadow creatively blends the historic model’s heritage with a contemporary accent through dark tones and muted textures.

Beginning with the A3642 in 1969, the DEFY’s signature angular steel case stood out with its brightly polished and satin-brushed surfaces. The DEFY Revival Shadow however takes on a decidedly muted and monolithic look. Crafted in titanium, a metal lauded for its light weight yet impressive durability and resistance to corrosion, the highly angular DEFY Revival case with its fourteen-sided bezel is entirely microblasted for a matte finish, revealing the dark grey tone of titanium and enhancing the geometry of the singular and instantly recognizable case. For a design that dates back to 1969, such a modern choice of tones and textures further emphasizes just how ahead of its time ZENITH was with the DEFY line. In fact, the silhouette remains utterly contemporary and literally edgy decades later.

More additions to the DEFY collection include pieces clad entirely in black ceramic. The DEFY Skyline and DEFY Skyline Skeleton take on a distinct aura of their own. At once brilliant, bold and sleek, the collection’s modernistic form takes on a decidedly dark look that’s as visually outstanding as it is resilient.

Introduced in 2022 as the modern successor to the ZENITH DEFY line of rugged and boldly designed wristwatches from 1969, the DEFY Skyline collection builds on its legacy with the same singular edginess and a new level of performance from the Manufacture’s latest generation of the seminal El Primero high-frequency calibre. The collection’s two main pillars – the DEFY Skyline and DEFY Skyline Skeleton – now take on alluring blacked-out look with two new references crafted entirely in black ceramic – including the bracelet.

Much harder than traditional metals and alloys like stainless steel, ceramic boasts many properties that make it a compelling choice for all-situations watches like the DEFY Skyline and DEFY Skyline Skeleton. Its extreme hardness, which requires diamond-tipped tools to cut the sharp lines of the DEFY Skyline and decorate it with a mix of satin-brushed and polished surfaces, makes ceramic highly resistant to scratches and visible wear. Unlike blackened metal elements which are simply plated, the ceramic itself is black and will never wear off. Even the integrated bracelet that follows the contours of the case is crafted in black ceramic. A black patterned rubber strap with a blackened steel folding clasp is also included, and swapping between it and the ceramic bracelet is effortless using the quick strap-change mechanism integrated directly in the case back.

Discover more about Zenith online, and keep an eye out for new releases from the fair landing both on our websites and in our showrooms soon.