Earlier this year, the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton launched at LVMH Watch Week. When the opportunity came up to get a loaner in for a few days, we agreed, given how much we liked the non-chronograph version (reviewed here). So, let’s get into our thoughts.
Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton: what it is
For many, the Zenith chronographs, with the El Primero movements, are the ideal of what a chronograph should be. It’s a movement with quite the pedigree, even helping to move a chronograph line (of one of Zenith’s competitors) to using an automatic movement. These days, of course, it’s all about how Zenith is showcasing them.
If you’re going to show off a movement, there’s the exhibition caseback, of course. Past that, you can carve out the dial. In the case of the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton, it’s actually the mainplate of the movement that’s been opened up, and acts as the dial. Though those cutouts (which evoke the brand’s logo from the ’60s) you can see the skeletonized El Primero 3600K. All of this is set into the same case and integrated bracelet design we looked at a few months back.
The movement
As we just noted, it’s the El Primero 3600SK, which is the skeletonized version of the 3600. The key thing to note about the movement is right there in the designation – this is a movement that runs at 3600 VpH (or 5 Hz). It’s this high-frequency movement that enthusiasts enjoy, and provides the accuracy for the watch. Not just in daily time, but also in the chrongraph, which can track timings to 1/10th of a second.
Reading the dial
This is one of the most critical concerns that I have for any skeletonized watch – just how easy is it to read the dial? Particularly a dial that has extra registers (and hands) to accomodate the chronograph functionality? Here, I found that the registers were helpful, as those obscured some of the view of the movement. In other words, getting a solid, flat surface that helped the eye pick out the handset.
Despite hands that – initially – felt too narrow, I found that reading the time at a glance was not a difficulty. So, my major concern with this general style was tamped down. Which means that – if you’ve got time to do more than check the time – you can let your eye try to discern what’s going on under the dial.
Wearing the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton
Now, I will admit – when the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton came in, I chose not to resize the bracelet. I very much enjoyed the fit of the bracelet on the Zenith Defy Skyline, as well as how it picked up the alternating brushed and polished finishes of the case. So, for the limited time I had with the chrono, I instead opted to use the rubber strap (fortunately, changing those out is about a 15 second task).
Given the amount of information that the watch provides, the 42mm case strikes a good balance between not making all of the displays feel cramped and not overwhelming your wrist. Past that, the 12.7mm thickness feels positively svelte for an automatic chronograph. Normally, fitting the extra components of the complication plus a rotor means a watch that approaches dive watch thickness. Not so here.
In other words, this is an eminently wearable watch. With the stainless steel case, it does truly feel like it’s ready to be an everyday watch. The rubber strap lets it feel a bit more casual, while swapping in the bracelet can easily let it work in dressier settings.
Wrapping things up
At the end of the time we had with the watch, I came away with one conclusion – I liked it. No, this doesn’t mean I’m a chronograph convert. And if I was choosing any single watch from the Zenith lineup, it would likely be the three-hander Skyline. Judged based solely on it’s own merits, though, this is a solid watch. And frankly, if you’re going to get an El Primero chronograph, why not show off that movement some?
If you’d like to get one of the new Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton watches on your wrist, you’ve only got one decision to make. Do you want a blue dial, or a black dial? Both versions come with a color-matched rubber bracelet (with the slick quick-change mechanism), and both go for $15,500. Check out the details at zenith-watches.com
Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph Skeleton Tech Specs
- Movement
- El Primero
- Components: 311
- Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)
- Power reserve: approx. 60 hours
- Functions
- Hours and minutes in the centre
- Small seconds at 9 o’clock
- 1/10th of a second Chronograph
- Central chronograph hand that makes one turn in 10 seconds
- 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock
- 60-second counter at 3 o’clock
- Case
- Material: Stainless steel
- Diameter: 42mm
- Thickness: 12.7mm
- Lug-to-lug: 47.4mm
- Crystal: flat sapphire with AR treatment
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
- Dial: Blue or Black, Openworked
- Hour-markers: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1.
- Hands: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1
- Strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Additional rubber strap with triple-folding clasp included
