Source: Images and content by Zenith. See the original article here - https://pressroom.zenith-watches.com/2025/07/03/zenith-and-timetide-unveil-their-third-and-final-surfer-limited-edition-the-defy-skyline-skeleton-white-surfer-ceramic/
Le Locle, July 3rd, 2025 – Big box office hits often lead to sequels. Blockbusters, however, need a “threequel” for completion. Following the sell-out success of the micro-blasted titanium DEFY Classic Skeleton Night Surfer in 2021 and DEFY Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero in 2023, ZENITH and Time+Tide now unveil their third and final collaboration in the “Surfer Trilogy”. Introducing the DEFY Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic. This new limited-edition watch retain a blue gradient openworked dial concept that is consistent across all three editions. It is a summer dream of a combination, with a beach-inspired twist.
Following the dark micro-blasted titanium editions from the first two collaborations between the Manufacture and the media & retail trailblazers, the DEFY Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic offers a fresh take on this bold, architectural timepiece. Sleek and cool on the wrist, its 41mm case combines modern resilience, versatility, and comfort—being ultra-light and scratch-resistant enough for a day on the sand. With a screw-down crown and water resistance of 10 ATM (100 metres), the DEFY Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic is just as ready to head into the waves.
Perfectly complementing the white ceramic case and integrated ceramic bracelet is its gradient blue open dial and skeletonised movement. Continuing from the first two ZENITH x Time+Tide collaborations’ concept, the open dial fades from darker blue at the top to a breezy light blue at the bottom. The bridges of the dial adopt the form of ZENITH’s five-pointed star which is comprised of Super-LumiNova to enhance visual impact at night. This is a return to a design feature from the original DEFY Classic Skeleton Night Surfer – the only other time in its history that ZENITH has offered a luminescent star logo.
Visible through this openworked dial, as well as the sapphire display back, is the skeletonised automatic high-frequency El Primero 3620 SK caliber. In another important premiere, the caliber has been rendered to match the star-shaped bridges, offering the wearer a seamless light blue tone to the dial.
Derived from the iconic ZENITH high-frequency El Primero chronograph movement, it displays the hours and minutes while its 1/10th of a second hand is driven directly from the escapement, which beats at 5Hz (36’000 VpH). Its ‘hacking seconds’ mechanism allows for precise time-setting. The bi-directional automatic winding mechanism delivers a power reserve of approximately 55 hours. In keeping with the watch’s theme, its mainplate, bridges and star-shaped rotor are rendered in a striking blue finish.
The versatile DEFY Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic comes on an integrated white ceramic bracelet. A white patterned rubber strap is also provided to make the most of the case’s ingenious quick strap-change mechanism which requires no tools to operate.
“With this third chapter in our collaboration, we’re not just continuing a story, we’re elevating it. Each edition has deepened our creative dialogue, and this new release is the boldest expression yet of what we can achieve together.” Benoît de Clerck, CEO of ZENITH.
“There’s a huge risk in trying for a trilogy when the first two collabs have been so popular, but when we saw the prototype of an ‘inverted’ Night Surfer, in brushed white ceramic, we just had to make it happen. The gradient light blue dial sealed it. Best summer watch ever.” Andrew McUtchen, Founder of Time+Tide
The ZENITH Defy Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic is a limited edition of 100 watches, available from Time + Tide, from authorized ZENITH retailers worldwide as well as ZENITH physical and online boutiques around the world.
