Zenith makes several additions to their Defy collection at the LVMH Watch Week 2026. Our pick from the new lineup are the Defy Skyline Skeleton and Skyline Chronograph, both in ceramic. Press Release information with live photographs and commentary in italics.
New for LVMH Watch Week: Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton and Skyline Chronograph
The new LVMH Zenith watches carry the following retail pricing
- Defy Skyline Skeleton Ref. 49.9300.3620/07.I001 CHF 16,900 / SGD 26,500
- Defy Skyline Chronograph Ref. 49.9500.3600/21.I001 CHF 18 900/SGD 28,500
We note that the price is adjusted down from CHF 20.9k on 28 January, 2026.
Commentary
Zenith’s Defy Skyline collection is a distinctive line which has its own interesting DNA and carries many of the signatures of the modern Zenith. The collection receives new references this year. The novelties are the Skyline Skeleton and the Skyline Chronograph both in ceramic, and a new Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton. The novelties also include a new Skyline 36 and a rendition of the Revival A3643. This article will focus on the first two with this hands-on commentary. Somewhere later this week, we will highlight the Skyline 36 and Revival, also with our hands-on commentary. We did not get a hands on with the tourbillon.
The Skyline Skeleton is not a new product. It was released in 2023 as part of the LVMH Watch Week novelties. We covered the launch Defy Skeleton in detail here. This year the model is released with a black ceramic case and bracelet and a gone toned movement. The ceramic feels very sturdy, but very light, and the deep dark black contrasts beautifully with the rose gold toned skeleton dial. The aesthetics are striking.
The same El Primero 3620 SK movement is displayed both on the dial side as well as on the case back.
Also not new is the flying 1/10th second running indicator which is directly driven by the 36,000 bph movement completing one revolution every 10 seconds, and remain as mesmerising to watch as ever.
The next mode is the Skyline Chronograph. Also not a new watch, per say, as it made its first appearance within the three blue editions in 2025. But now rendered in a black ceramic for both the case and bracelet. The dial features a gradient in grey, and still adorned with the four pointed star motif in a repetitive pattern.
The movement remains the El Primero 3600. This carries the flag of Zenith’s 36,000 bph chronograph with 1/10s display. This is a more standard Zenith, and what we have come to expect. As with the Skeleton model, the ceramic case and bracelet feels very light. We found the dial to be very legible, with nicely contrasting silvered hands against the dark dial. The star pattern provides some visual texture.
Release details
URBAN LIGHT, BLACK STRUCTURE: THE NEW DEFY SKYLINE SKELETON IN ARCHITECTURAL CONTRASTS
The DEFY Skyline Skeleton pushes the language of contemporary watch design into a realm shaped by open structures, sharp geometry and the visual contrastsof the modern city.
Its openworked construction reveals the El Primero 3620 SK calibre in full transparency, while its interplay of light and shadow echoes the dynamic rhythm of an urban skyline.
Now presented in a bold new black ceramic edition paired with a gold‑toned movement, this latest interpretation enhances the architectural character of the model and gives it a strikingly modern, metropolitan presence.
Beneath the open dial shaped after ZENITH’s emblematic four‑pointed star from 1969 lies the El Primero 3620 SK calibre, finished entirely in gold tone. Instead of a traditional central seconds display, the DEFY SKYLINE introduces the world’s first and only constant 1/10th of a second running indicator. Directly driven by the 5 Hz escapement, it completes a full rotation every 10 seconds, creating a visual rhythm reminiscent of the perpetual motion of the city.
Designed for modern versatility, this new edition is fitted with an integrated black ceramic bracelet that extends the sleek geometry of the case, forming a seamless architectural silhouette. A black patterned rubber strap is also included, easily interchangeable thanks to the intuitive quick strap-change mechanism requiring no tools, a nod to the adaptability of contemporary urban life.
The DEFY Skyline Skeleton is available at ZENITH boutiques, online, and through authorised retailers worldwide.
DEFY SKYLINE CHRONOGRAPH CERAMIC INTENSITY, CHRONOGRAPH PRECISION: THE DEFY SKYLINE CHRONOGRAPH IN BLACK
The DEFY Skyline Chronograph returns in a striking new interpretation, now crafted entirely in black ceramic. First presented in full ceramic within a trio of blue-toned editions created to mark the Manufacture’s 160th anniversary in 2025, the model now takes on a bold and distinctly contemporary presence in deep black, a material and colour that amplify both its architectural silhouette and refined urban character.
Durable, lightweight and smooth to the touch, ceramic offers exceptional performance and visual depth. Its rich black tone, coloured throughout rather than coated, enhances the facets of the DEFY Skyline Chronograph, giving the case and bracelet a sculptural intensity.
Resistant to scratches and meticulously finished, the material sharpens the watch’s geometric contours and reinforces its commanding, modern aesthetic.
The gradient dial mirrors the depth of the ceramic exterior, transitioning from a lighter centre to a darker periphery, echoing the interplay of shadow and light across a cityscape. True to the DEFY Skyline identity, the dial is adorned with an engraved four-pointed star motif, while the chronograph’s three counters are decorated with concentric patterns that enrich the sense of structure. Faceted hands and applied markers filled with luminescent material ensure clarity and legibility in all environments.DEFY
At the core of the DEFY Skyline Chronograph lies the El Primero 3600 calibre, a contemporary evolution of ZENITH’s legendary high-frequency chronograph movement. It displays 1/10th of a second with exceptional precision, with the chronograph seconds hand completing a full revolution every 10 seconds, six times faster than conventional chronographs. Beating at 5 Hz and offering a 60-hour power reserve, the movement is visible through a sapphire case back that reveals its intricate architecture, including a blued column wheel and a star-shaped rotor.
Versatility remains integral to the DEFY Skyline design. The black ceramic edition features an integrated quick strap‑change mechanism directly built into the case, enabling effortless transitions between the two-link ceramic bracelet and the accompanying patterned black rubber strap with folding clasp.
The DEFY Skyline Chronograph is available at ZENITH boutiques online, and through authorised retailers worldwide.
DEFY SKYLINE SKELETON Specifications
Reference: 49.9300.3620/07.I001
KEY POINTS: El Primero 3-hand movement. Skeletonized movement with high-frequency 1/10th of a second counter at 6 o’clock. Silicon escape wheel and lever. Screwed-in crown. Full interchangeable strap system.
MOVEMENT: El Primero 3620 SK automatic. FREQUENCY: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz). POWER RESERVE: 55 hours. FUNCTIONS: Hours and minutes in the centre. 1/10th of a second counter at 6 o’clock. FINISHES: Gold-toned mainplate.
CASE MATERIAL: Black ceramic. WATER RESISTANCE: 10 ATM. DIAMETER: 41mm.
DIAL: Gold-toned openworked. HOUR MARKERS: Gold-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN C1. HANDS: Gold-plated, faceted and coated with Super-LumiNova SLN C1.
BRACELET & BUCKLE: Black ceramic bracelet with double folding clasp, and black rubber strap with steel folding clasp.
DEFY SKYLINE CHRONOGRAPH Specifications
Reference: 49.9500.3600/21.I001
KEY POINTS: Black ceramic. Automatic El Primero column-wheel chronograph able to measure and display 1/10th of a second. Date indication. Silicon escape wheel and lever. Screwed-in crown. Full interchangeable strap system. Stop-second mechanism.
MOVEMENT: El Primero 3600 automatic. FREQUENCY: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz). POWER RESERVE: 60 hours. FUNCTIONS: 1/10th of a second chronograph functions. Hours and minutes in the centre. Small seconds at 9 o’clock. Central chronograph hand making one full rotation in 10 seconds. 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock. 60-second counter at 3 o’clock. Date indication at 4:30. FINISHES: Oscillating weight with satined finishings.
CASE MATERIAL: Black ceramic. WATER RESISTANCE: 10 ATM. DIAMETER: 42mm. DIAL: Gradient grey starry sky pattern. HOUR MARKERS: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1. HANDS: Rhodium-plated, faceted and coated with SuperLuminova SLN C1.
BRACELET & BUCKLE: Black ceramic bracelet with double folding clasp, and black rubber strap with steel folding clasp.
