The folks at Zenith have proven to have a keen eye for the right collaborations, with some truly great releases done with the likes of Hodinkee, Revolution, and Time +Tide in recent years. This week, we’re getting the final watch in the Surfer trilogy of collaborations with Time + Tide, and this time, it’s a Defy Skyline Skeleton rendered in white ceramic. The ‘Surfer’ theme is represented in the light iridescent blue dial structure which brings a dynamic quality to the ethereal design. The concept runs in contrast to the ‘Night Surfer’ watches that represent the first two stages of the collaboration, released in 2021 (Defy Classic), and 2023 (Skyline Skeleton).
The white and blue colorway is a perfect lead into the summer, and once again somehow manages to be a standout example of the Skyline Skeleton design. This is a watch that seems to come to life when big colors are introduced to the mix, and this collaboration does exactly that. The Skyline Skeleton uses the Zenith El Primero 3620 SK automatic movement, which ditches all the complications in favor of a simple, symmetrical design. The running seconds hand makes a loop each ten seconds, but it feels less distracting in the confines of an openworked, colorful dial.
Zenith has embraced collaborative partnerships, and the results speak for themselves. All three of these ‘Surfer’ themed watches done with Time + Tide offer a clear vision and consistent motifs that appear throughout, and each bring something unique to the table. The brand’s recent Hodinkee collaborations may lack the same cohesion, but each is exceptionally well done. Likewise, the Defy done with Collective Horology offers a distinctive take on the formula. It’s almost like these projects reveal the true beauty of the core designs upon which they are based.
These are the projects that give me hope that collaborative efforts between brands and enthusiasts with a vision aren’t quite dead, but rather, are evolving. Things may have gone overboard for a bit there when it comes to collaborations, but good ones are timeless, and the right partnership should always be on the table. Hats off to Zenith for being open to such projects, and to our friends at Time + Tide for bringing these ideas to fruition with them.
The Zenith x Time + Tide Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic is limited to 100 pieces planned for production, and is available now. Zenith / Time + Tide
Leave a Reply