The watch world has embraced ceramic in recent years, pushing it beyond the usual realm of the bezel insert, and into a starring role throughout the case and bracelet (and sometimes, dial). Thanks to modern production methods, we’re even getting ceramic rendered in an interesting array of colors and finishes. Sure, it’s not a new material, with the likes of IWC and Rado having used it since the ‘80s, but modern ceramic watches are no longer a novelty, they are closer to the norm. As wonderful as some of the more colorful examples are, it’s tough to beat the classic black ceramic, which never quite looks fully black, and that’s exactly what we find in a pair of new Defy Skyline references from Zenith.
The Defy Skyline is entering its fourth year, and while it is certainly a well rounded collection at this point, it’s very much still defining a full identity for itself. With a new black on black ceramic Defy Skyline Chronograph, we find a design that’s presented in its base form, with no wild accents, open dial, or other elements that could be considered a distraction. The result is a borderline generic chronograph, with the star-texture dial that features a very subtle gradation serving as the core differentiator. It’s a familiar look, and handsome to be sure, but there’s little here to separate it from other black on black chronographs at a glance.
This isn’t a bad thing necessarily, the fundamentals are right on point and there’s a lot to appreciate here. In fact, this would be a great daily wear option, as it’s lightweight and flies under the radar with ease. At 42mm, it’s slightly large, but the integrated case wears surprisingly well. The only real ergonomic complaint is the size of the pushers hanging off the three o’clock side of the case, which almost overpower the rest of the design, but are in fact proportionate to the size of the crown.
The watch really comes to life with the colorful strap selection that Zenith offers for their proprietary quick release system. The straps are easy to swap between on the fly, and the black case make for a perfect base to build different color schemes upon. There’s also a surprising amount of options, each of which would be a near must have for owners of this reference. They’re also pretty comfortable in use, and while they aren’t cheap, since there’s no springbar or traditional lug here, they are your only option for customization.
As usual, the watch is rocking Zenith’s high frequency El Primero 3600 automatic chronograph movement, which is visible through an open caseback. When activated, it sends the timing seconds hand flying at a rate of one full rotation every ten seconds, with a seconds and minute totalizer joining the running seconds in the trio of sub-dials. It’s not new, but it somehow never gets old in practice.
In addition to the Defy Skyline Chronograph in black ceramic, we’re also getting a Defy Skyline Skeleton made of the same materials, featuring an open dial that uses a gold toned mainplate to cut a strong contrast against the smokey dark ceramic. The 41mm case has a strong presence, and the use of gold brings out a very different personality. This is a time-only reference, though it’s still using a high frequency movement, and the running seconds hand at six o’clock makes a complete lap every ten seconds.
The Defy Skyline Chronograph in black ceramic is priced at $23,600, while the Defy Skyline Skeleton in black ceramic is priced at $18,900. Zenith
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