With an intriguing display of micro-mechanics accentuated by monochromatic tones, paired with the superlative performance that is synonymous with the Zenith manufacture and its in-house calibres, the new trio of DEFY Classic Ceramic resonates with the style-conscious urbanite.

The DEFY Classic has made its mark as Zenith’s expression of neo-futuristic watchmaking in its purest form. With the DEFY Classic collection in Black, White and Blue Ceramic, its distinguishing features are brought to life from its subtle nuances and the sense of volume it conveys through balanced geometry and a unique, visionary architecture – inside and out.
 

Forged from exceptionally durable and scratch-resistant ceramic that can take on a multitude of colors and tones, the DEFY Classic’s faceted 41mm case features a combination of polished and satin-brushed surfaces, emphasizing its geometric and resolutely contemporary case inspired by the original Zenith DEFY collection first launched in the 1970s. The angular, silhouette of the case is softened by the perfectly circular bezel that haloes above it.

The centrepiece of the DEFY Classic Black Ceramic’s is its avant-garde open dial. Taking on a stellar form with ultramodern angles, the multi-layered element seamlessly blends the neoteric display with the movement.
 

In broad daylight, the faceted hands and applied markers appear as one with the blackened complex of the open dial and visible portions of the movement, with their polished ruthenium-treated surfaces gleaming through the darkness for surprisingly easy legibility. In darkness, they emit a subtle green glow from the Super-LumiNova® SLN C1 coating.

From the other end of the spectrum comes the DEFY Classic White Ceramic, a monochromatic take on the skeletonized Elite calibre housed in a bright white ceramic case and bezel. With its silvery multi-layer open dial, the urban landscape-inspired display comes to life in a most luminous way. The purity and unique lustre of the white ceramic and graphic details of the open dial lend the watch a voguish accent with a unisex appeal.
 

Visible through the open dial as well as the sapphire case back of the DEFY Classic, the automatic Elite 670 manufacture movement beats unerringly. A staple movement in Zenith’s lineup for decades, the DEFY Classic represents the first time the Elite caliber has been openworked. Its entire anatomy has been reimagined – not just aesthetically, with its restructured and open bridges with cutting-edge finishing – but also in its performance, as the Elite caliber in the DEFY Classic features a silicon pallet-lever and escape-wheel.

Perfectly integrated with the contours of the case and following the structured lines of the dial and movement, the DEFY Classic Ceramic models are fitted with unistructure rubber straps in the same tones as the cases, offering sporty, casual elegance and comfort in all situations an urban explorer may encounter.