Zenith Launches World’s First Skeleton Watch With 1/10th Of A Second Indicator

The Boutique Edition of Zenith’s Defy Skyline Skeleton is an incredibly precise timepiece.

The legacy of Zenith‘s Defy, a luxury sport watch range that debuted in 1969, continues to grow with the launch of the Skyline Skeleton Boutique Edition.

A quick breakdown: the Zenith Skyline is a relatively new model that arrived in 2022. As Worn & Wound points out, the Skyline serves as an additional platform for the Swiss watchmaker to show off the excellent El Primero movement that powers the Zenith Chronomaster, but with the chronograph mechanism removed.

The Skyline Skeleton version is even newer, having debuted in early 2023. The Boutique Edition ups the collectability factor, as it’s available exclusively in Zenith boutiques.

The open dial showcases four-pointed stars, recalling the brand’s “double Z” logo of the 1960s, and the dial is rendered in a silvery-gray shade. A darker chapter ring, featuring applied gold-plated baton hour markers filled with Super-LumiNova and matching hands, not only adds visual interest but ensures legibility.

Zenith could have just stopped there and released what would essentially be a Skyline Skeleton with a luxe makeover. But instead, they’ve created the world’s first skeleton watch to feature a 1/10th of a second indicator. The feat is made possible by the next generation of the El Primero movement, the 55-hour 3620 SK, the workings of which can be observed through the sapphire caseback.

The Skyline Skeleton Boutique Edition also retains much of the DNA of its predecessors, with a 41mm stainless steel case featuring cut edges. Unlike other Defy models’ eight-sided bezels, this latest release features 12 sides. Additionally, the screw-down crown emblazoned with the Zenith star emblem offers water resistance up to 10 ATM (100 meters).

The Zenith Defy Skyline Skeleton Boutique Edition is priced from $11,000. If interested, use Zenith’s Official Boutique locator tool to find a retailer near you.