Palms-On: Zenith Defy Skyline 36 Watch

Zenith refers to its Defy Skyline 36, which it launched earlier this 12 months, as a “midsize unisex” mannequin. Quite a lot of it’s possible you’ll balk at that. Whereas watch sizes are undoubtedly trending down after years of wrist-breaking paperweights, 36mm remains to be too small for a lot of. On prime of that, regardless of its use of the phrase, Zenith has marketed these watches in the direction of ladies: The watches are modeled by ladies on the product pages, and the press releases I’ve seen for these explicit fashions spotlight distinctive ladies entrepreneurs. Add to that the colours and the alternate diamond bezel fashions in the identical hues, and Zenith would seem to have checked its swing on the entire midsize unisex concept. After spending time with the lime inexperienced Zenith Defy Skyline 36, although, it turned pleasingly clear that these colourful watches are, actually, for everybody.

Let me inform you proper now that, aside from the most important of wrists, 36mm shouldn’t be too small. Whereas the transition from my largely 38-41mm watches took a second, after simply an hour or so on the wrist, I didn’t discover the dimensions in any respect, as a substitute being struck by how nicely the 36mm stainless-steel case wore. With a peak of 10.4mm, the Zenith Defy Skyline isn’t successful any prizes within the 36mm slimness class, however the pure silhouette created by each the bracelet and the included rubber strap gave it a seamless and easy presence on the wrist. With a lug-to-lug of simply 40.6mm, there’s no query this shall be simply accommodated by most wrists.

As we see on each Defy, this Zenith is outlined by angles. In actual fact, the curves on the case are restricted to the scalloped edges of the dodecagonal polished bezel and its spherical prime (on the gem-set fashions, the bezel has 52 brilliant-cut diamonds). This contemporary angular type makes the watch stand out a bit, balancing the impact of the bracelet and strap, and I don’t suppose that’s a foul factor. Having not tried different Defy fashions, I can’t say the way it compares, however the boldness of the design belies its smaller dimension in a approach that I feel will assist some folks overcome their micro-horophobia (the concern of small watches). The ending is extraordinarily crisp throughout, and the pull-out crown with its polished star was adequately sized and simple to function. Fortunately, water resistance is 100m, that means this watch handily qualifies as a go wherever, do something possibility.

The case of the Defy Skyline 36 is complemented by two distinctive band choices: a stainless-steel bracelet with fitted finish hyperlinks and butterfly clasp and a rubber strap with a folding deployant clasp. The bracelet continues the outlined brushing accented with polished exterior and inside chamfers. I used to be capable of obtain an ideal match on my 7-inch wrist, however as at all times with butterfly clasps, your expertise could differ. The rubber strap was mild, versatile, and extremely snug. Not some generic providing, it echoes the case design whereas that includes the identical patterning because the dial; its clasp is simple to function and stays securely closed. The most effective half is the quick-change system, although: by miserable a tab on the again of the bracelet or strap, the band is launched from the recessed bars within the case. It’s a novel system, however not as versatile because the one we’ve seen from IWC, which makes use of a conventional springbar and thus nonetheless permits third-party straps.

So beholden to its modernity and the cutting-edge actions inside its watches is the Defy assortment that fewer than a 3rd have stable dials. The Skyline 36 and its variants are amongst these. The watch options the identical repeating four-pointed star motif that’s on many of the Skyline fashions, a callback to the model’s star-like double-z emblem from the Sixties. Right here, it provides depth and texture to the colourful sunburst inexperienced dial (the Defy Skyline 36 additionally is available in pink and blue). In contrast to most sunburst ending that radiates from the fingers, the burst right here begins on the utilized star emblem, including a little bit one thing particular.

The dial has a couple of different components which are price mentioning. The handset and utilized numerals are fairly easy, with Tremendous-LumiNova that shines adequately, and a star counterbalance on the seconds hand. A delicate design that you could be not catch is how the brushed chapter ring is 12-sided to match the bezel. The Zenith Skyline Defy 36 additionally omits the 1/10-second sub-dial featured on its 41mm counterparts (no nice loss) however has the identical date. This date window has me torn. On the one hand, I recognize how intentional it’s: the dial sample stopping earlier than the home windows beveled edge, the color-matched wheel. Then again, it feels cramped, pushed to the facet, up in opposition to the chapter ring with nowhere to go. Imperfect as it might be, I’ll be the primary one to confess that it’s fully inoffensive.

With the easier, stable dial, you additionally get an easier motion. As a substitute of the high-beat El Primero within the different 3-hand Defy fashions, the 36mm choices like this one characteristic the Zenith Elite 670. Nonetheless a part of Zenith’s in depth secure of manufacture calibers, the Elite 670 runs at 28,800 vph with an influence reserve of fifty hours, which is completely advantageous. The motion incorporates a star-shaped rotor which may be loved at your leisure via the sapphire caseback.

If you’d like the final taste of the Zenith Defy assortment however aren’t fairly snug with the architectural skeleton dials many of the fashions have, the Skyline 36 could also be your finest wager. Undoubtedly sized for a extra fashionable watch client, it additionally lacks the quirky however in the end impractical 1/10-seconds sub-dial its bigger siblings characteristic—that’s a plus in my e-book. On the very least, I feel this may make an ideal summer time watch. The Zenith Defy Skyline 36 is priced at $8,500 USD ($12,000 with diamonds) and accessible from approved sellers or straight from Zenith. For extra info, please go to the model’s web site.