The Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer for Time+Tide

Whenever a movie is an absolute smash hit at the box office, a sequel is likely to follow. The same analogy can be made when it comes to (limited edition) watches. So when Time+Tide partnered with Zenith for the rather cool Defy Classic Night Surfer, and it proved a smash hit, a sequel was expected to be on the horizon. But unlike most Hollywood sequels, this one does not disappoint and presents an edgier continuation of the Night Surfer theme. Still presented in microblasted titanium, and still fitted with a blued skeletonized movement, this one ups the ante in more ways than one, though! And as luck would have it, we had the chance to get our hands on one prior to release, so here’s a live look at what our friends from down under have been cooking; the Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer.

Just to freshen your memory, the first collaboration between Zenith and Time+Tide was the Defy Classic Night Surfer, released in 2021. This captured the Australian night sky through a darkened, microblasted titanium case and a blued skeletonized movement. The Aussie team really created something cool with this one, as it stands out from the vast range of shaped luxury sports watches from a mile away. The 100-piece run was quickly done and dusted, so for this “Chapter Two” watch, the teams have doubled down!

Using the Defy Skyline Skeleton as a base, the exterior is still sized at 41mm in diameter but has an even edgier profile when compared to the Defy Classic Nigth Surfer. The case is once again in titanium and has a microblasted finish for a dark and tactile look and feel. The octagonal shape is topped with a 12-sided bezel of the same material and finish. The screw-down crown ensures 100m of water resistance and a sapphire crystal protects both the dial and movement, or rather the movement as this lacks a traditional dial of course.

Just as before, the main attraction of the Night Surfer is that deep blue finished movement that also substitutes for a dial. The star-shaped bridge on top is surrounded by a grey-coloured outer flange with applied hour indices. Said main bridge is also finished with strikes of Super-LumiNova to add a visual punch at night, along with the luminous markers and hands. The subdial at 6 o’clock is not to be mistaken for a small-second display, but rather Zenith’s speedy 1/10th of a second indication.

Again, the decision was made to use the skeletonized version of the high-frequency (5Hz, 36,000vph) El Primero 3620 movement as dictated by using the Defy Skyline Skeleton as a starting point. This removes the date and changes the central seconds indication to a 1/10th of a second complication at the bottom. The skeletonized construction opens up the movement for your viewing pleasure, granting visual access to elements such as the running gear, the barrel, the winding system, the silicon escape wheel and lever, etc. The star-shaped central rotor drives energy to the barrel to its maximum capacity of 60 hours.

This very cool Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero x Time+Tide is limited to 200 pieces and comes with a microblasted titanium bracelet that integrates into the case. On top of that, you also get a night blue rubber strap with a star-embossed pattern and a folding buckle. It is priced at CHF 11,900 and is exclusively available on Time+Tide’s online shop and Zenith’s online boutiques. Given the popularity of the first one and the even edgier look of this one, it will no doubt be another hit for the two teams!

For more information, please visit Zenith-Watches.com or TimeandTideWatches.com.