This week we welcome Collective Horology co-founder Gabe Reilly to the podcast to discuss the brand’s 10th collaborative watch releasing today, the Zenith Defy Skyline C.X. The new watch is the second collaboration between Collective Horology and Zenith, and the first since 2019 and their initial product offering, the C.01. Gabe offers a wealth of insight not only to the process, but to the industry as a whole, and to how Collective Horology fits into that bigger picture by way of a focus on independent watchmaking.
The latest collaboration to come from Collective Horology is the Zenith Defy Skyline C.X, the X representing the tenth such release. This is the most unique Defy Skyline to be released, not for its over the top design, but for the restraint shown in its execution. This is a simply, brutal take on the modern Defy formula, with a near uniform finish and color tone applied to the rigid, geometric shape of the Skyline.
The C.X utilizes a unique dial pattern, which still uses the four pointed star, but now fades out at the dial’s perimeter. This move reduces some of the tension between the pattern and the octagon bezel, and pushes the focal point inward. Inside is the same El Primero 3620 SK generally found in the openworked Skyline, as it ditches the use of a date while keeping a symmetric layout, placing the running seconds at six o’clock.
Yes, it’s still a high-beat (5Hz) situation, so that seconds hand will make a full rotation every 10 seconds. The top of that sub dial is marked with an orange 10 to denote that passage of time, as well as serve as a nod to the 10th collaborative watch released by Collective Horology. The steel case still measures 41mm, and it gets a sand blasted finish save for the polished edge of the 12 sided bezel.
Just 200 example of the Defy Skyline C.X are planned for production, and each will ship with an orange rubber strap along with the steel bracelet. They can be swapped on the fly thanks to the use of the brand’s quick release system. Pricing is set at $12,300, and the watch is available directly from Collective Horology, as well as Zenith boutiques.
Show notes for the podcast:
The Deep Track Podcast, Ep. 3 – Asher Rapkin
The Deep Track Podcast, Ep. 21 – Benoit de Clerck
The Deep Track Podcast, Ep. 10 – Laurance Bodenmann
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin