LVMH WATCH WEEK 2026: ZENITH INTRODUCES NEW ADDITIONS TO ITS DEFY COLLECTION

At the seventh edition of LVMH Watch Week in Milan, Zenith has reinforced its commitment to the DEFY collection with a series of new models that explore contrasts of material, form, and mechanical complexity. The Swiss Manufacture, headquartered in Le Locle since 1865, joins fellow LVMH Maisons including Bvlgari, Hublot, TAG Heuer, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany at the annual showcase, which runs from 19-21 January 2026.

The DEFY Skyline Skeleton receives a striking new interpretation in black ceramic paired with a gold-toned movement. The 41 mm case features a dodecagonal bezel and faceted architecture that Zenith describes as evoking contemporary urban landscapes. Through its openworked dial, shaped after the brand's emblematic four-pointed star from 1969, the El Primero 3620 SK calibre is visible in its entirety.

The movement operates at 5 Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour) and introduces what Zenith claims is the world's first constant 1/10th of a second running indicator. Rather than displaying central seconds in the traditional manner, a subdial at 6 o'clock completes a full rotation every ten seconds, driven directly by the escapement. The silicon escape wheel and lever contribute to a power reserve of 55 hours.

The watch comes fitted with an integrated black ceramic bracelet, while a patterned rubber strap is included for those seeking a sportier alternative. Both can be swapped without tools thanks to the quick-change mechanism built into the case.

Following on from the blue ceramic editions released for Zenith's 160th anniversary in 2025, the DEFY Skyline Chronograph now appears in an all-black ceramic execution. The 42 mm case and integrated bracelet are crafted entirely from the scratch-resistant material, with its colour running throughout rather than applied as a coating.

The gradient dial transitions from a lighter centre to darker edges, decorated with the signature four-pointed star motif and three sub-dials featuring concentric patterns. At its heart lies the El Primero 3600 calibre, a column-wheel chronograph capable of measuring elapsed time to 1/10th of a second. The central chronograph hand completes a full revolution every 10 seconds, six times faster than a conventional chronograph.

The movement beats at 5 Hz and delivers a 60-hour power reserve. Through the sapphire case back, the architecture of the calibre is visible, including its blued column wheel and star-shaped rotor. Water resistance is rated to 10 ATM.

The most technically ambitious release is the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Skeleton, the first tourbillon skeleton within the Skyline line. At the core of the watch lies the El Primero 3630 SK calibre in a 41 mm rose gold case. The movement is presented without a traditional dial, its skeletonised architecture finished in an intense blue PVD treatment.

Selectively polished areas reveal rhodium-plated chamfers beneath, creating visual depth through contrasting surfaces. Two architectural bridges positioned at 10 and 2 o'clock feature double-tier, sloping geometry that Zenith likens to contemporary architectural cantilevers. The one-minute tourbillon, visible at six o'clock through a 56-component cage, oscillates at 5 Hz.

A skeletonised barrel offers a direct view of the mainspring as it unwinds across the 50-hour power reserve. The watch comes with both a solid rose gold bracelet and a star-patterned blue rubber strap with matching gold folding clasp.

The unisex DEFY Skyline 36 expands its colour palette with a new silver-toned dial, offered in two variants. The first features a clean stainless steel bezel; the second sets 52 VVS brilliant-cut diamonds, totalling approximately one carat, around its 12-sided bezel.

Both versions retain the collection's signature geometric motif of engraved four-pointed stars, a modern reinterpretation of Zenith's historic "double Z" logo. The 36 mm faceted steel case houses the Elite 670 automatic calibre, visible through an exhibition case back. Operating at 4 Hz with a 50-hour power reserve, the movement is finished in silver tone and fitted with an open star-shaped rotor.

Luminescent hour markers and hands ensure readability in low light, while a screw-down crown provides water resistance to 10 ATM. The quick-change system allows the integrated steel bracelet to be exchanged for the included black rubber strap.

Zenith's programme of reissuing historic DEFY references continues with the A3643, a model first produced in 1969. Following the A3642 revival in 2022 and the ruby-dialled A3691 from 1971 reintroduced in 2023, this latest edition is distinguished by its silver-toned dial.

The 37 mm steel case retains the octagonal profile and 14-sided bezel that earned the original model nicknames such as "the bank vault" and "the bolt". Using high-precision scanning of a vintage example, Zenith has meticulously recreated the dial's original structure. Applied hour markers feature a two-tier profile: a satin-brushed central plane elevated above glossy black-lacquered recesses, while the seconds hand carries a vivid orange rectangular segment.

Unlike the 1969 original, which featured a solid case back, the revival offers a sapphire display back revealing the Elite 670 movement with its star-shaped rotor and Côtes de Genève finishing. The watch is fitted with the iconic "ladder" bracelet originally designed exclusively for Zenith by Gay Frères in 1969. Water resistance reaches an impressive 30 ATM.

Across these five releases, Zenith demonstrates the breadth of the DEFY collection. From the accessible entry point of the Revival A3643 to the haute horlogerie complexity of the Tourbillon Skeleton, the range spans sizes, materials and complications while maintaining a coherent design language rooted in geometric forms and architectural inspiration.

The consistent thread is Zenith's high-frequency El Primero and Elite calibres, developed and manufactured in-house at Le Locle. Whether measuring tenths of a second through a column-wheel chronograph or displaying the hypnotic rotation of a tourbillon, the movements remain central to the DEFY proposition.

As LVMH Watch Week 2026 unfolds in Milan, Zenith reaffirms its position as a manufacture that balances heritage with contemporary ambition. The DEFY collection, now in its sixth decade, continues to evolve.