Time-honoured decorative techniques take the spotlight in Zenith’s first new rollouts for 2025
Zenith celebrates its 160th anniversary in 2025 with a masterful fusion of traditional craftsmanship and advanced mechanical engineering. At LVMH Watch Week 2025, the storied Swiss watchmaker unveiled two striking timepieces: a skeletonised Defy Skyline Chronograph and the dazzling Chronomaster Sport Rainbow to flex its prowess in both decorative and technical watchmaking.
Zenith’s Defy Skyline collection, known for its contemporary aesthetics, welcomed a chronograph model in 2024. This year, the Defy Skyline Chronograph gets updated with a skeletonised variant, which lays bare its state-of-the-art, high-frequency El Primero 3600 automatic movement for your viewing pleasure.
A decorative technique that dates back to the 18th century, skeletonisation involves the removal of excess metal on the dial and movement to expose the architectural beauty of the components. In the Defy Skyline Chronograph, Zenith’s artisans channel this craft with an openworked dial—available in blue or black—that offers an unobstructed view of its inner workings.
At the heart of this timepiece lies the El Primero 3600, Zenith’s most advanced high-frequency automatic chronograph movement. It delivers exceptional precision by beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour (vph), compared to the standard 28,800 vph of regular chronographs. This high-frequency capability enables greater accuracy in timing intervals. Despite its cutting-edge performance, the movement is made with fewer components than its predecessor (the El Primero 400), while offering a robust 60-hour power reserve.
follows the version in rose gold from 2024. Photo by Zenith
For collectors who prefer their timepieces to make a statement, Zenith has transformed its Chronomaster Sport into a radiant display of colour and luxury. The new Chronomaster Sport Rainbow, crafted in white gold, sparkles with 62 baguette-cut sapphires and diamonds adorning the bezel and dial, with a total weight exceeding 5 carats.
The gem-set masterpiece is as technically proficient as it is visually striking. Also powered by the El Primero 3600, it combines precision timekeeping with a high-octane design, perfect for collectors who don’t shy away from ostentation. Priced at US$112,100, the Chronomaster Sport Rainbow certainly deserves its time in the sun.
