Dubai, November 15, 2023: Ahead of the biennial Dubai Watch Week, Zenith CEO Julien Tornare and Time+Tide Founder Andrew McUtchen have joined forces to introduce the second chapter of their highly coveted collaboration.
Following the release of the DEFY Classic Skeleton Night Surfer limited edition of 100 pieces in 2021, which artfully captured the allure of the darkening night sky and ocean in a microblasted titanium case with a liquid blue gradient dial, the Manufacture and Australian tastemakers proudly present the DEFY Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero, a limited edition of 200 pieces.
An evolution of the DEFY Classic Skeleton, the DEFY Skyline Skeleton takes both design and performance to unprecedented heights. With bolder, bluer, and more geometric lines, coupled with the latest generation of the high-frequency automatic El Primero caliber, the DEFY Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero serves as both a sequel and evolution of the original. Time+Tide’s goal was to preserve the exceptional elements of the original Night Surfer while incorporating all the enhancements offered by the DEFY Skyline Skeleton.
A groundbreaking feature for the DEFY Skyline Skeleton model is the entire angular 41mm case, including its dodecagonal bezel and integrated bracelet, crafted in microblasted titanium. This imparts a uniform, subdued grey tone with minimal light reflection. The addition of a screw-down crown, ensuring water resistance of 10 ATM (100 meters), enhances its readiness for water sports. The interchangeable strap system, including a second textured blue rubber strap, allows for effortless swapping without the need for tools.
Andrew McUtchen, founder of Time+Tide, notes, “These key upgrades to the Night Surfer Skeleton El Primero make it a totally different timepiece to both the first Night Surfer and the Skyline Skeleton collection in general. But perhaps the most exciting new feature is the El Primero movement that drives it. The buttery smooth 1/10th of a second counter on the dial is the proof that you have a truly high-performance machine on your wrist, wherever you take it; in the water, or out.”
The gradient night sky dial concept returns in the DEFY Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero but takes on a new form and more dramatic execution. The open dial showcases a large central four-pointed star element, seamlessly integrated into the skeletonization of the movement’s blue bridges and main plate. The metallic blue color of the dial darkens from the bottom to the top, reminiscent of the fading light on the horizon just after sunset. In a homage to the original Night Surfer, the ZENITH applied star logo in Super-LumiNova, the entire four-pointed star on the dial is highlighted with luminescent lines, making it visible and brighter in the dark. Positioned at 6 o’clock, the dial features a distinctive element among skeleton watches: a running 1/10th of a second indicator.
This dynamic feature in the DEFY Skyline Skyline Night Surfer El Primero is powered by the El Primero 3620 automatic high-frequency manufacture movement, operating at a rate of 5Hz (36,000VpH). This high rate enables the direct driving of the 1/10th of a second indicator by the escapement. The efficient automatic bi-directional winding mechanism, adorned with a blue star-shaped rotor, provides a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.
The DEFY Skyline Skyline Night Surfer El Primero is a limited edition of 200 pieces, exclusively available on Time+Tide’s online store and ZENITH’s online boutiques worldwide.
For more information, please visit Zenith-Watches.com.
