Zenith Defy Skyline Tourbillon Filipe Pantone

Pantone enters the third dimension

The worlds of contemporary art and haute horlogerie are colliding again in a burst of
chromatics and optical intricacies. For their third collaborative series together between
Switzerland’s first integrated watch manufacture and the globally acclaimed
contemporary artist, Zenith and Felipe Pantone are once again raising the bar and
distilling all the distinctive and groundbreaking elements incorporated in their shared
projects into an all-new form: the Defy Skyline Tourbillon. 

Crafted in a 41mm octagonal stainless-steel case, the Defy Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone provides a highly geometric and angular silhouette frame to the miniature, three-dimensional kinetic artwork within. With its alternating satin-brushed and polished finishes as well as an easily interchangeable steel bracelet and provided black rubber strap, particular attention was paid to the ergonomics of this unisex creation as well as its visual impact. Its sharp facets and smoothly polished contours, highlight by the dodecagonal bezel, provide the ultimate play of light. In continuity with the previous Zenith x Felipe Pantone projects, the case is engraved on each corner with a character to denote “FPT1,” or Felipe Pantone Tourbillon #1.

Completing one rotation every 60 seconds, the tourbillon mechanism visible through the opening at 6 o’clock keeps the watch always animated. Specifically for this special collaborative edition, the tourbillon bridge takes on the shape of a lightning bolt, a recurring element in Felipe Pantone’s extensive body of work across different media. Finished in a gradient of metallic rainbow tones that was originally pioneered in the duo’s first collaborative output in 2021, the 3D PVD technique on the tourbillon bridge and cage in the form of a four-pointed star further highlights the artist’s distinctive aesthetic. 

Look to the dial, where an entire sapphire disk has been micro-engraved in a pattern of concentric circles, recalling the moiré visual effect ever so present in Pantone’s artwork. The back of the sapphire dial features a mirrored metallic finish that, combined with the micro-engraving, produces a striking display of colors in a manner that’s reminiscent of a CD. To add even more depth to the dial and bring out a touch of retro nostalgia, the sapphire dial disk packs a vignette effect that darkens towards the outer edges. The combination of sapphire crystal with a mirrored back, a micro-engraving pattern and a vignette effect is a highly complex and unprecedented feat – both technically and visually.

Powered by the El Primero 3630 high-frequency automatic manufacture movement with a power reserve of 60 hours, the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone incorporates the artist’s chromatic signature touch even on the movement, in the form of a star-shaped oscillating weight with a rainbow PVD finish matching the tourbillon cage and bridge as well as the other metallic elements on the dial side. 

Specifications:

• Case: 41mm stainless steel
• Dial: Tinted sapphire dial with mirror metalization and irridescent laser
  texturization. Hands & hour markers rhodium-plated, faceted with "Rainbow" PVD coating & SLN C1
  
• Sapphire Crystal front, exhibition caseback, "Rainbow" PVD-coated oscillating weight
• Movement: 5Hz El Primero 3630 Automatic (5Hz, 36,000 VpH)
• Movement characteristics: Automatic winding, hours and minutes in the center tourbillon, carriage is positioned at 6 o'clock, and makes one rotation per minute
• Power reserve: 60 hours
• Water Resistance: 100 meters
• Strap: Features Zenith-exclusive interchangeable strap system and additional rubber strap
• Limited Edition: 100 pieces