Zenith adds three very cool Ice Blue models to its Defy Skyline collection and debuts a new comprehensive strap service on its online boutique.
One of three new Zenith Defy Skyline Icy Blue Boutique editions debuts, here in 36mm.
Offered in 41mm and 36mm sizes, the new Defy Skyline Ice Blue Boutique Edition models maintain the Skyline’s signature angular steel case with a dodecagonal bezel, a shape Zenith credits to its own Defy designs from 1969.
The new Zenith Defy Skyline Ice Blue Boutique Edition, 36mm model with diamond bezel.
Instead of the dark blue dials of many earlier Skyline debuts, this new trio exhibits a summer-ready icy blue metallic color engraved with the Skyline’s four-pointed-star pattern. As with all Zenith Skyline models, the date wheels are colored to match the dials.
Zenith is launching one 41mm model and two 36mm models with the new color scheme. One of the 36mm models is set with a diamond bezel.
The new Zenith Defy Skyline Ice Blue Boutique Edition 41mm model with the 1/10 second indicator.
At the same time Zenith unveils a new service on its online boutique that allows buyers to browse and purchase from a selection of compatible straps. While the service is debuting in Europe now, online customers in North America and Japan will be able to use the service starting in September.
Inside the 41mm model Zenith fits its El Primero 3620 automatic high-frequency(36,000 vph) caliber that offers a unique 1/10th-of-a-second indicator driven directly from the escapement. The watch features a power reserve of sixty hours.
The back of the Zenith Elite 670 caliber.
The two smaller models are powered by Zenith’s Elite 670 automatic manufacture movement, which offers a power reserve of fifty hours. Each model features a star-shaped oscillating weight that can be viewed through a sapphire display back.
Zenith is supplying each watch in the new Defy Skyline Ice Blue Boutique Edition with a steel bracelet finished with a satin-brushed surface and chamfered, polished edges.
In addition, each watch arrives with an ‘Ice Blue’ rubber strap with a starry sky pattern and a steel folding clasp. The customer can quickly swap straps without using any tools thanks to Zenith’s quick strap-change mechanism.
Finally, while the 41mm is available only on the Zenith online boutique, both 36mm models are available from both physical and online boutiques.
Prices: $8,500 (36mm), $9,000 (41mm) and $12,000 (36mm with diamonds).
Roger Smith’s Pocket Watch Number Two sold for $4.9 million during the Phillips New York Watch Auction Eight held June 10 and June 11, setting a new record for any British timepiece while marking the fourth highest price ever achieved for a pocket watch at auction.
The Roger Smith, Pocket Watch Number Two.
The English watchmaker worked for five years to create the watch by hand in order to win the approval of the late George Daniels and secure an apprenticeship in Daniels’ legendary workshop on the Isle of Man.
Case back open view of the Roger Smith, Pocket Watch Number Two.
As Phillips explains “With Pocket Watch Number One rejected by Daniels, it was the perfection of this timepiece – Pocket Watch Number Two – that led Daniels to proclaim to Smith, “You are now a watchmaker.”
The Patek Philippe Ref. 2481 Pristine Forest.
In addition to the Roger Smith sale, two Patek Philippe watches sold for more than $1 million, including the Ref. 2481 Pristine Forest (which sold for $1.1 million) as well as the Philippe Dufour Simplicity 37, which sold for $863,600.
The Audemars Piguet Grand Complication platinum pocket watch, which sold for $635,000, more than ten times its low estimate.
An Audemars Piguet Grande Complication pocket watch in platinum, completed in 2011, sold for $635,000, more than ten times its low estimate.
The Philippe Dufour Simplicity 37 “No. 70”
Watches from Zenith also did well, including a tropical A384 El Primero which sold well past its $6,000-$12,000 estimate to $50,800, setting a new record for a vintage El Primero model. Zenith’s Chronomaster Original Pink “Unique Piece” for Susan G. Komen” sold for $30,480, of which 100% of proceeds, including Buyer’s Premium, will be donated to the breast cancer organization.
The Zenith Chronomaster Original Pink “Unique Piece for Susan G. Komen”
The auction realized total sales of $26.4 million, selling 100% by lot and 100% by value. See the Phillips website for full results and details.
Zenith donates a pink El Primero Chronomaster for a June 10-11 Phillips auction in support of the Susan G. Komen breast cancer awareness organization.
The Zenith Chronomaster Original Pink, Unique Piece for Susan G. Komen.
The auction will be held in person in New York City or online, with 100 percent of the proceeds donated to Susan G. Komen to help fight breast cancer and raise awareness. Komen advocates for patients, drives research breakthroughs, improves access to high-quality care and offers direct patient support and information.
The upcoming auction continues Zenith’s advocacy for breast cancer awareness. It follows the launch of the Chronomaster Original Pink edition in October 2022, which raised funds for Susan G. Komen, and enhances awareness to the cause also championed at the recent Zenith Meet the DreamHers event held in Singapore.
“Supporting Komen, with its rapport and incredible impact, is a partnership of great significance for Zenith,” notes Zenith CEO Julien Tornare.
“The Chronomaster Original Pink unique piece will help fund impactful research and support for patients undergoing treatment, a cause we are proud and eager to be a part of over the coming years.”
The Zenith Chronomaster Original Pink, Unique Piece for Susan G. Komen watch is a one-of-a-kind 38mm steel edition of the famed El Primero-set watch and includes diamond-set lugs similar to the Zenith A386. Inside Zenith fits itsAutomatic El Primero 3600, with the unusual 1/10th-of-a-second chronograph function.
The watch’s metallic pink dial honors the color globally associated with breast cancer awareness. Zenith will add an additional strap (of the winner’s choice) to the package and will supply a certificate stating the watch’s uniqueness.
Phillips is estimating an $8,000 to $16,000 auction price.
Zenith in 2023 highlights its aviation watches with two new models, the Pilot Automatic and the Pilot Big Date Flyback.
Both new watches, which Zenith debuts today at the 2023 Watches & Wonders, will be available in newly designed steel or black ceramic cases.
The new Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback, here in a black ceramic case.
The Pilot Automatic will be offered as a 40mm three-hand time and date watch while the Pilot Big Date Flyback offers a 42.5mm chronograph with both a large date display and a flyback function.
The new Zenith Pilot Automatic, in a 40mm steel case.
The flyback function allows the wearer to quickly reset the chronograph to zero and then restart it by a single push of a button. Historically, this allowed pilots to record consecutive times without stopping.
Both designs update Zenith’s long-standing pilot collection. Those familiar with the watchmaker may recall that Zenith in 1888 actually filed a trademark for the French term “Pilote” and filed for the English “Pilot” in 1904. Zenith today remains the only brand to hold the rights to mark its dials with ‘Pilot.’
In the early 20th century the watchmaker specialized in watches and dashboard instruments for pilots, notably supplying Louis Blériot, who made history by making the first flight across the English Channel in 1909.
Pilot Automatic
In addition to the new case design, Zenith gives this model a distinctive flat-top round bezel.Zenith satin-brushes the steel case version and micro-blasts the black ceramic model to give it a contemporary matte finish. On the watch’s black opaline dial Zenith fits oversized Arabic numerals in traditional early 20th-century pilot style. The dial’s horizontal grooves are meant to mimic the look of corrugated metal on the fuselage of older aircrafts.
At 6 o’clock above the date window, Zenith adds a new flat luminescent hour marker to replace an Arabic 6. This white line recalls the artificial horizon instrument found in cockpits. A similar line is found just below the date on the Pilot Big Date Flyback.
Seen through the sapphire display back is Zenith’s El Primero 3620 high-frequency manufacture movement, which delivers a power reserve of sixty hours when fully wound. Zenith will supply straps to match both models: The black ceramic version is delivered on a black cordura-effect rubber strap as well as a khaki rubber strap.
Zenith supplies the steel model on the same black rubber strap, but adds a second strap made of vintage-like brown calfskin leather. Of course, these straps can be easily swapped with the quick-release mechanism integrated directly into the back of the straps.
Pilot Big Date Flyback
Powered by the new El Primero 3652 automatic high-frequency chronograph (a new version of the Zenith El Primero 3600), the new watch displays its namesake functions with panache.
The steel model is especially notable for its vintage ‘Rainbow Flyback’references with its chronograph’s minutes totalizer finished in alternating colors, which will make it easier to distinguish between the five-minute marks.
In addition, the steel model’s central chronograph seconds and its chronograph minutes hands are bright orange. This is another nod to the Zenith El Primero Rainbow from 1997.
The model’s black ceramic version offers a more utilitarian look with luminescent white markers and hands that contrast nicely against a black corrugated dial. On both models, the date display features a new, patented mechanism that advances and stabilizes both of the big date’s wheels in less than 0.03 seconds.
Zenith will deliver the new Pilot Big Date Flyback in ceramicwith a black and khaki rubber strap. For the steel version Zenith includes the black rubber strap and a brown leather strap.
Prices:
Pilot Automatic – Black Microblasted Ceramic: $9,600
Pilot Big Date Flyback – Black Microblasted Ceramic: $13,500
Pilot Automatic – Steel: $7,500
Pilot Big Date Flyback – Steel: $11,500
More Dark 2023 Debuts
Also for Watches and Wonders 2023 Zenith debuts an all-black micro blasted titanium Defy Revival Shadow, with a matte black dial ($7,400).
Zenith’s new Defy Revival Shadow.
Additional all-black debuts include the Defy Skyline Ceramic ($15,000),which features a black galvanic dial with a sun-ray finish, and a new Defy Skyline Skeleton Ceramic ($17,000), with an open dial that highlights a blackened large central four-pointed star.
The new Zenith Defy Skyline Black Ceramic.
The watch’s skeleton movement features black bridges and main plate.
The new Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton Black Ceramic.
Zenith unveils the second model in its collection of faithfully reproduced early Defy models with the Defy Revival A3691, a sharp-looking 37mm steel watch with a glossy red gradient dial that echoes the original from 1971.
The new Zenith Defy Revival A3691.
You might recall the first revival of the historic Defy series a few years ago when Zenith launched the Defy A3642. That debut recalled the original 1969 Zenith debut watch fans quickly dubbed the “bank vault” due to its thick 37mm octagonal case and fourteen-sided bezel.
This newest addition to the revival series retains the Defy fourteen-sided bezel set in an octagonal case. Zenith launched the original Defy A3691 model two years after the original ‘Bank Vault’ edition and with it introduced new colorful dials with a vignette or gradient effect that darkens towards the edges.
Like the original, the new Revival A3691 also features unusual applied square hour markers with horizontal grooves and the Gay Frères steel ladder bracelet. Zenith says the bracelet has been updated with a more modern and ergonomic folding clasp.
The differences between the original model and the new revival are largely technical. Thenew edition now utilizes a sapphire crystal, SuperLuminova-coated hands and a new Zenith Elite 670 automatic movement, which boasts a fifty-hour power reserve.
Also new is the sapphire caseback, which allows a view of the movement and its four-point Zenith star rotor. And, despite the new clear back, Zenith has retained the watch’s healthy 300-meter water resistance rating.
Zenith adds the new Defy Revival A3691 to the ongoing Defy collection. Price: $6,900.
Specifications: Zenith Defy Revival A3691
Movement: Zenith Elite 670 automatic, 4 Hz frequency, power reserve of 50 hours. Star-shaped rotor with satin finish.
Case: 37mm steel, 300-meters of water resistance.
Dial: Ruby color gradient with rhodium-plated and faceted hour markers and hands, hands coated with SuperLuminova.
Bracelet: Gay Frères ladder-style with updated folding clasp.
