INTRODUCING: Zenith x Time and Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero

Zenith often get forgotten when it comes to naming the Stars- quite literally- of the luxury watch industry. Having been around since 1865, their quiet yet assertive presence has not gone unnoticed. The first automatic chronograph movement came from their R&D division, and even powered the early automatic Daytonas. Innovators to their very core, Zenith have been equipping some of histories greatest pioneers with watches. They were there for the first cross-Channel flight, as well as the first freefall jump from the edge of space. 

Time+Tide are industry leaders when it comes to watch related content and have been since they were founded in 2014, by Andrew McUtchen. A key driver behind the exponential growth of the enthusiast community in the digital media era, Time+Tide have been increasing their influence in the industry by partnering with numerous brands, including Zenith, and even opening their own enthusiast oriented store in Melbourne- they really are living the Wrist Enthusiast Team’s dreams, chapeau. For this second collaboration between these two industry leaders they have really pulled out all of the stops- let’s get straight into it…

The Basics:

Brand: Zenith

Model: Defy Skyline Skeleton Nightsurfer El Primero Time+Tide Edition

Case Material: Titanium

Case Size: 41mm

Water Resistance: 100m

Movement: El Primero 3620 SK

Movement Specs: 3 hand automatic movement, hours, minutes, 1/10th seconds at 6 o’clock, 60 hours power-reserve.

Strap Options: Integrated Titanium Bracelet and Integrated Navy-Blue Rubber strap.

The Juice:

The Zenith Defy is often overlooked as one of the best sportswatches on the market. It has everything and more. Integrated bracelet. Yes. High-Performance Movement. Yes. Good looks. Absolutely. It’s no wonder that it was picked to be the base of this second collaboration between Time+Tide and Zenith. Let’s have a closer look…

Taking the bull by the horns here, let’s start off with the fantastically skeletonized El Primero movement. The beating heart of this piece is one of a few movements that are accurate to a 1/10th of second, which it proudly displays on the 6 o’clock sub-dial. The symmetrical blue plates make up the base of the ‘dial’ side and let us see right inside the movement. The sapphire caseback gives us a view into the rear end of the piece, exhibiting the famous star-shaped rotor, which matches the vibrant hues of the rest of the watch. 

The case is sized at a practical 41mm. Plenty of room to show off the aforementioned skeletonized movement but compact enough to sit almost unnoticed under any cuff. The shape itself is mesmerising. So many sports watches on the market are similarly drawn, but this Zenith outdoes all of them. The proportions and angles are harmonious and are enhanced by the dark grey of the micro blasted titanium. This finish dulls the piece, whilst giving it a soft but distinctive texture.

As the integrated sports watch of Zenith’s range, the Defy obviously comes on a fantastic titanium bracelet. It flows freely from the case and sits comfortably on the wrist. The micro-blasted finish is unique but unusual on a bracelet. If you want to switch it up, it also comes with a robust navy-blue rubber strap, that compliments the blue accents on the face beautifully.

This partnership between Zenith and Time+Tide has yet again blown it out of the park. Limited to 200 pieces, there is going to be fierce competition if you want to get your hands on it- we can totally see why. To put it simply, it’s fantastic and it does everything you need it to.

how much does the Zenith x Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton Nightsurfer El Primero cost?

The Zenith x Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton Nightsurfer El Primero will retail for $12,000 USD and will exclusively be available on the Zenith and Time+Tide online boutiques.