Zenith and Felipe Pantone: A New Collaboration in the Defy Skyline Collection

In recent years, Zenith’s limited edition releases in collaboration with artist Felipe Pantone have stood out among the growing popularity of collaborative editions in the watch industry. These pieces are not just watches but true works of art, which is fitting considering Pantone’s reputation as a visual artist. These collaborations have found their perfect home in Zenith’s Defy line, a collection that has embraced color and avant-garde design from its inception. The latest collaboration between Zenith and Pantone is undoubtedly the most ambitious to date, marking the first time the artist has had a hand in a watch from the current Defy Skyline collection.

The Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone takes what is almost certainly the most exotic model in the Defy line and infuses it with the chromatic and optical touches that are Pantone’s signature. The tourbillon is, of course, the literal centerpiece of the design, and its bridge has been reimagined as a lightning bolt, a motif found throughout Pantone’s work. The colorful gradient and metallic finish are reminiscent of the first Pantone collaboration, which was a standout success.

While previous collaborations with Pantone featured largely skeletonized dials, the new Defy Skyline Tourbillon takes a different approach. The dial is a large sapphire disc micro-engraved with a pattern of concentric circles. This “moire” effect is another Pantone signature, hinted at in his second collaboration with Zenith but taken to a more maximalist level here. Additionally, the sapphire dial features a vignette effect, making it darker at the outer edges. As with previous releases, the hands and hour markers are “distorted” in their middle section, echoing the lightning bolt effect of the tourbillon bridge, and gradient color effects are applied throughout the design.

The watch runs on the automatic El Primero 3630 movement, offering a 60-hour power reserve. The winding rotor, star-shaped, features a rainbow PVD finish that complements the tourbillon cage. The stainless steel case measures 41mm in diameter, is water-resistant to 100 meters, and features the angular design common to other Defy Skyline models.

The Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone is priced at $62,300 and is a limited edition of 100 pieces.

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