Last year Zenith gave watch lovers an alternative to spending years on a waiting list for a Rolex Daytona by creating a watch of equal beauty and horological credibility in the form of the Chronomaster Sport.
This year LVMH’s most historic marque is helping people tired of chasing Audemars Piguet’s unicorn watch, the discontinued Royal Oak Jumbo Extra Thin ref. 15202ST, with a fresh addition to the ever-expanding Defy collection, the Defy Skyline.
Like the Chronomaster, the steel on steel Defy Skyline is no simple lookalike of a red hot reference, it is merely appealing to a customer that likes that particular combination of luxury, utility and history.
Most obviously, it has a 12-sided bezel compared to the Royal Oak’s eight and doesn’t have exposed octagonal screw heads.
The Skyline uses four pointed stars across a sunburst dial to create texture and interest. There is a date at 3 o’clock opposite a 1/10th of a second subdial at 9.
It introduces a new manufacture movement, the El Primero 3620 automatic with 60 hour power reserve.
The Skyline comes on a steel bracelet that appears to be fully integrated with the case, but can actually be swapped out for a rubber strap without using tools.
This new Defy Skyline is priced at £7,100 and comes with a choice of blue, black or silver dial.
