At LVMH Watch Week 2026 in Milan, ZENITH presents a sharply focused vision—one that places the DEFY collection at the centre of its contemporary identity. Across revival pieces, refined three-hand models, ceramic chronographs, skeletonized movements, and a high-frequency tourbillon, ZENITH makes one thing clear: DEFY is no longer a category. It is a philosophy.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This year’s novelties explore the idea of urban resilience—how architecture, precision, and material innovation come together to create watches designed not only to be admired, but to endure.
DEFY Revival A3643: The Origin of the DEFY Language
The DEFY story begins in 1969, and in 2026, ZENITH returns to one of its earliest and most defining references: the DEFY Revival A3643.
True to the historical model, the watch features the legendary “Time-Safe” case, protected by a screwed 14-sided bezel and caseback—a design conceived to withstand extreme conditions. Rendered in stainless steel and sized at 37mm, the proportions remain faithful to the original while feeling perfectly attuned to modern preferences for compact, versatile watches.
A silver dial with applied indices and Super-LumiNova® ensures clarity, while the integrated steel bracelet—with a modern micro-adjustment clasp—adds contemporary comfort. Powering the watch is the Elite 670, a calibre that represents a milestone in ZENITH’s manufacture history: precise, slim, and engineered for long-term reliability.
Importantly, the A3643 is more than a revival. Its angular case architecture directly inspired the design language of the modern DEFY Skyline collection—making this watch the conceptual cornerstone of the entire DEFY universe.
DEFY Skyline 36mm: Modern Geometry in Refined Proportions
With the DEFY Skyline 36mm, ZENITH refines its urban design vocabulary into a more compact, unisex format without sacrificing presence.
The stainless-steel case retains the Skyline’s distinctive angular silhouette and dodecagonal bezel, while a new white-toned sunray dial introduces a softer, more luminous expression of the collection’s signature four-pointed star pattern. The result is a watch that feels architectural yet elegant—sporty, but undeniably refined.
Two interpretations define the range:
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a classic steel bezel for understated versatility
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a diamond-set dodecagonal bezel (52 diamonds, 1 carat) that elevates the watch into a more jewellery-forward territory while remaining unmistakably DEFY
Inside, the Elite 670 once again delivers automatic precision with a 50-hour power reserve. An interchangeable bracelet system with an additional rubber strap reinforces the Skyline’s everyday adaptability.
This is DEFY at its most accessible—confident, balanced, and effortlessly contemporary.
DEFY Skyline Chronograph Black Ceramic: High-Frequency, High Impact
The DEFY Skyline Chronograph Black Ceramic introduces a more assertive expression of the collection’s urban identity.
Clad entirely in black ceramic, the 42mm case and dodecagonal bezel amplify the Skyline’s sharp geometry while offering exceptional scratch resistance and durability. The black sunray dial, engraved with the star motif, creates depth and contrast beneath luminous applied indices.
At its core is the El Primero 3600, ZENITH’s modern high-frequency chronograph calibre. Beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, it enables true 1/10th of a second measurement, displayed directly and intuitively. Despite this technical performance, the movement maintains a robust 60-hour power reserve, underscoring ZENITH’s mastery of efficiency at high frequency.
This watch embodies DEFY’s performance ethos—precision expressed through material innovation and architectural clarity.
DEFY Skyline Skeleton Black Ceramic: Transparency with Intent
Skeletonization within the DEFY collection is not decorative—it is structural. The DEFY Skyline Skeleton Black Ceramic demonstrates this philosophy with striking clarity.
The 41mm black ceramic case frames a skeletonized movement finished in rose-gold-toned PVD, creating a powerful contrast between darkness and warmth. The openworked architecture follows ZENITH’s star-shaped design language, ensuring that every bridge serves both mechanical and visual purpose.
Powering the watch is the El Primero 3620 SK, a high-frequency automatic movement that features a 1/10th of a second indicator designed for smooth, continuous motion. An integrated braking system prevents hand jumping, allowing the indicator to rotate fluidly—an example of functional innovation hidden beneath visual drama.
The result is a watch that reveals its mechanics without compromising legibility or balance.
DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton: A High-Frequency First
The most significant technical statement of ZENITH’s 2026 presentation arrives in the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton, limited to 50 pieces worldwide.
For the first time, ZENITH combines a high-frequency 5Hz tourbillon with a fully skeletonized architecture inside the DEFY Skyline case. Crafted in rose gold, the 41mm watch houses the El Primero 3630, a movement that redefines the relationship between complexity and efficiency.
The tourbillon cage—shaped like ZENITH’s iconic double-Z star—completes one rotation per minute at 6 o’clock. Despite the energy demands of a high-frequency tourbillon, the movement delivers an impressive 60-hour power reserve, achieved through an ultra-light aluminium cage weighing just 0.25 grams.
This watch represents the summit of the DEFY philosophy: architectural design, high-frequency precision, and haute horlogerie expertise unified in a single, uncompromising creation.
DEFY in 2026: A Unified Vision
Across every model unveiled at LVMH Watch Week 2026, ZENITH communicates a clear and disciplined message. DEFY is not defined by complication or material alone—it is defined by structure, frequency, and intent.
From the historical foundations of the A3643 to the technical audacity of the tourbillon skeleton, the DEFY collection expresses a singular vision of modern watchmaking—one that is urban, resilient, and relentlessly forward-looking.
In 2026, ZENITH does not chase trends.
It builds frameworks—and dares time to keep up.
