BY JOVAN KRSTEVSKI
Felipe Pantone is a renowned artist who collaborated with watchmaking powerhouse Zenith thrice in the past and worked on Zenith models like the Defy 21 and Defy Extreme. Now the contemporary kinetic artist has once again joined forces with Zenith to bring us the new Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone, bringing a prismatic burst of color onto the Skyline’s dial.
The watch comes in a moderately sized 41mm octagonal shaped stainless steel case with a 12-sided bezel. The case is finished with a combination of brushed and polished surfaces where the screw-down crown ensures a 100m water resistance and has the iconic Zenith star logo. The four corners of the case have engraved letters and a number, denoting “Felipe Pantone Tourbillon #1”.
The artistic expression fully shines on the dial, which is crafted from a sapphire crystal disk with an iridescent effect that changes depending on the angle of light. The applied hour markers are distorted and colorful, resembling lightning bolts, while the hands are also rendered in a multitude of colors using a 3D PVD technique. The tourbillon bridge and cage are also shaped like lightning bolts, a recurring element in this model.
The in-house El Primero 3630 high-frequency tourbillon movement is visible through the sapphire crystal caseback, an automatic movement that offers approximately 60 hours power reserve and features a one-minute tourbillon.
The Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone comes with a steel bracelet or black rubber strap. Both straps have a folding clasp and can be switched. It’s limited to 100 pieces and costs CHF 60,000 or EUR 65,000.
