Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/10/29/zenith-defy-skyline-how-to-kill-two-birds-with-one-watch-reprise/
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Zenith Defy Skyline on steel bracelet
Oodles of value
It shouldn’t be necessary, but the industry is in a bit of turmoil lately, and while there are some signs of things settling down, the insane demand and tiny availability for steel sports watches from the “big three” has opened up a niche in the market that is just waiting to be exploited.
The low end is more than covered with plenty of great options under $5,000, and the very high end is still dominated by Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Rolex. But out of all the pieces that come in between $5,000 and $15,000, a reigning champion has yet to truly emerge.
Zenith benefits from not releasing this watch two to four years ago when brands were all piling into the steel sports watch market, often with similar results. One could argue that the Defy Classic was that attempt, but unlike many brands, Zenith clearly decided to go back to the drawing table and see what it could improve.
The Defy Skyline is obviously very close to the Defy Classic with a shared case outline and some basic similarities, but with enough changes and upgrades to make it a truly a new watch that strayed far enough from the standard fare to give it a good chance of becoming the best mid-range steel sports watch on the market.
Thanks to the textured dial, 10-second subdial, sharp 12-sided bezel, easy-to-use quick-release strap system, and tactile crown, the Defy Skyline stands out in a busy marketplace.
It does something that the Girard-Perregaux Laureato still hasn’t done in my eyes: convince people that it is a great alternative for those who want something different. The Defy Skyline comes in at half the price and has better looks with a bit of flair.
Zenith Defy Skyline with black dial on steel bracelet
Time will be both the judge and jury, but Zenith knocked it out of the park with this model. The Defy collection had already been built up as a modern cousin to the Chronomaster aesthetic, and now the collection has a true heart.
The Defy Skyline is exactly what the brand should have released to anchor the collection around something broadly popular and to give the overextended legends a run for their money – and their market share.
While we are running, let’s try to give this watch a rundown!
- Wowza Factor * 8.5 It’s not every day that a brand releases a new stainless steel sports watch (okay, it’s fairly common) and it is good enough to put the big three on alert!
- Late Night Lust Appeal * 85 » 833.565m/s2 The dial, the crown, the speedy seconds: it’s all enough to keep you excited until the rooster crows!
- M.G.R. * 55.8 60 hours of power reserve and the classic 5 Hz El Primero base equipped with silicon escapement sounds like a great start for a great watch!
- Added-Functionitis * Mild The date function is always useful, even if some people wish it was integrated better or just removed from the dial. Either way I’d recommend children’s strength Gotta-HAVE-That cream to soothe your surprising horological swelling!
- Ouch Outline * 8.9 Waking up with an immovable neck! As we get older, we experience random signs that our bodies are not as forgiving as they used to be, like waking up one morning to be almost paralyzed with a stiff neck. Luckily it went away after a bit of careful stretching, but I’d do it all over again if it meant getting the Defy Skyline on my wrist!
- Mermaid Moment * That’s the whole package! The desire for an affordable steel sports watch that checks all the boxes could lead you to putting a ring on that, um, crown stem?
- Awesome Total * 862 Begin with the caliber number (3620) and divide by the number of seconds displayed on the small seconds dial (10) and add the answer to the result of multiplying the water resistance in meters (100) to the frequency of the El Primero caliber in Hz (5) to achieve a category breaking awesome total!
For more information, please visit zenith-watches.com/en_us/product/defy-skyline.
Quick Facts Zenith Defy Skyline
Case: 41 x 11.6 mm, stainless steel
Movement: automatic Caliber El Primero 3620, 60-hour power reserve, 36,000 vph/5Hz frequency, silicon escapement
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds (showing one-tenth of a second); date
Price: CHF 8,400 / $8,400
Remark: five-year warranty and quick-release strap system
* This article was first published 30 October 2022 at Zenith Defy Skyline: How To Kill Two Birds With One Watch
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Credits: Article and images by Joshua Munchow @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/10/29/zenith-defy-skyline-how-to-kill-two-birds-with-one-watch-reprise/
