Placing women in the spotlight, Zenith, at the inaugural edition of LVMH Watch Week – Dubai 2020, has embarked on a new kind of innovation in its DEFY collection with DEFY Midnight that has a dreamy, cosmic touch; and the new Elite collection that redefines the codes of 21st century watchmaking for the ultimate in contemporary elegance
Exploring two sides of femininity
With two of its new creations dedicated entirely to women, Zenith is elevating both ends of the spectrum of women’s watches. On one side, the resolutely contemporary DEFY Midnight and, on the other, the timelessly elegant Elite collection.
DEFY Midnight
There is dreamer in each of us, gazing at the starry night sky and taking in the infinite potential that lies ahead. For its first purely feminine watch, Zenith sought inspiration from the cosmos when creating the DEFY Midnight, a versatile sporty-chic timepiece with a uniquely celestial dial, conceived with free-spirited women in mind. As much a jewel as it is a watch, the DEFY Midnight is the perfect companion for the independent women of today: confident, expressive, and with a style of their own.
Housed in a 36mm stainless steel case embellished with brilliant-cut diamonds, the dial of the DEFY Midnight gives Zenith’s “Time to Reach your Star” philosophy a literal, visual manifestation. Available in deep blue or grey colours, the dial features a glossy finish with a vertical gradient effect for an unprecedented depth. Portraying the night sky above the endless horizon, where the dark vastness of space gives way to the glimmer of starlight, the dial at once enchants and enlightens the wearer.
Evoking the Zenith starry sky, the brand’s faceted star emblem is the highest, brightest point in the depicted night sky. Completing the celestial landscape are stars of different sizes – some of which glow in the dark. A third dial made of white mother-pearl with a vertical gradient effect evokes moonlight on a cloudy night. White diamonds are applied on every hour marker, except at 3 o’clock where the date window is placed. Equipped with the automatic Elite in-house movement, the DEFY Midnight provides dependable precision and autonomy of 50 hours. A star-shaped oscillating weight brings a galactic element to the case-back view.
The DEFY Midnight features an assortment of bracelets and straps that can easily be swapped by the wearer, allowing the DEFY Midnight to adapt itself to different looks and situations. The integrated stainless steel bracelet as well as a selection of coloured satin and leather straps with rubber backing can be swapped by means of a quick strap-change mechanism integrated directly onto the back of the straps, and requiring no tools or special skills for the owner to do on her own, be it for a change of seasons or just a change of outfit. Each DEFY Midnight will come in a special box that includes 3 additional coloured straps and an interchangeable folding clasp.
Elite Classic and Moonphase
Zenith revisits its own past from the vantage point of today, with the newly revamped Elite collection of unisex watches. Sleeker, more minimalistic, yet strong in its graphic identity, the Elite collection is confident in its timeless lines and proportions. Through two models available in two sizes and a number of case and dial combinations, the Elite Classic and Moonphase models set the tone for Zenith’s vision of contemporary elegance.
Like rays of light darting out from the sun, the radiant sunburst pattern of the Elite Classic dial creates a spectacle of highlights and shadows. To enhance the visual depth, the dial is set with tapered hour markers that are faceted and polished. The minutes and seconds track lend the dial a scientific touch, while slightly larger applied hour markers break up the track and highlight the four cardinal points of the dial. Floating above the lively dial are sharp and slim “Dauphine” shaped hands, a nostalgic nod to Zenith timepieces from mid-20th century.
The Elite Moonphase, majestic in its tones and whimsical in its harmonious asymmetry, uncovers the veil of night to bring out the enchanting beauty of the moon. A midnight blue circle on the lower half of the sunburst pattern dial takes on the same tone as the moonphase disk, giving the impression of an oversized display of the golden moon and stars. In juxtaposition, a small running seconds hand at 9 o’clock recalls the fleeting nature of time.
Carefully reapplying the same elegant proportions across the collection, the Elite Classic and Elite Moonphase models are available in 40.5mm and 36mm case diameters, in stainless steel or rose gold. Besides the choice of dial colours, the wearer can give his or her Elite a more personal touch with a wide choice of straps in numerous materials and colours, available from Zenith boutiques and authorised retailers.
