Hands-On: Zenith TimeTide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer

April 03, 2012

We told you to sit tight and catch that wave when it comes around. Well, surfs up, people, because todays the day the frosty Zenith Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic comes out in a limited edition of 100 watches. Its the final Surfer of the trilogy and your last chance to catch this wave. If youre wondering what this watch is like on the wrist, heres a hands-on with the frosty white ceramic watch with an ocean-blue gradient open-worked dial. Spoiler alert: this watch is a hang-loose, good-vibes machine.Surfs up, Fratelli. Today, 100 pieces of the frosty Zenith Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic (49.9309.3620/85.I001) become available. In case you wanted but missed the previous two LEs in this series, the micro-blasted titanium Defy Classic Skeleton Night Surfer and Defy Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero, nows the time to act because this is the final chapter of a great adventure. Luckily, one of the watches was stranded at Fratello HQ, so we could experience it before it returned to the waves.Hands-on with the Zenith Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer CeramicIts impossible not to immediately have an opinion on the Zenith Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic. A white watch in brushed ceramic with an open-worked dial with touches of bright blue does that. I like it. A lot. I am fond of white ceramic watches, and this one immediately found its way into my heart. Although Im not the greatest fan of open-worked dials - I think they are a surrogate for a skeletonized movement and have a much-ado-about-nothing vibe - in the all-white setting, it offers contrast and dynamism. And this certainly is a dynamic watch. The gradient blue star-shaped construction of the dial is a fascinating and eye-catching feature. Its precisely at home in this vibrant and exuberant timepiece. Its a bubbly watch with a carpe diem attitude.The Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic has a 41mm diameter, an 11.6mm thickness, and a 46mm length. The watch also comes with a full-ceramic H-link bracelet and a rubber strap. My favorite option, hands down, is the slim white ceramic bracelet. The all-ceramic look gives the watch an untouchable vibe, and the bracelet also wears incredibly well. The rubber strap outfitted with a titanium folding clasp looks sporty and is as comfortable as you would expect, but the watch truly comes to life and starts to shine on the bracelet.On the beach and in the wavesAs you know, ceramic is a scratch-resistant material. Theres one place I would feel uncomfortable bringing a full-ceramic watch to - the beach. All those billions of sharp, minuscule rocks we call sand are the archenemies of any watch, including ceramic ones. Maybe 99% of the grains of sand on the beach youre on while wearing a brushed white ceramic watch with a matching ceramic bracelet will have nothing on your tough timepiece. But the remaining 1%, especially the very fine grains, will possibly do damage, so taking the risk is up to you. You can limit exposure to damaging abrasion by putting the patterned rubber strap on the watch when taking it to the beach. Thanks to the quick-change mechanism, swapping the bracelet for the strap and vice versa is an easy and tool-free procedure.A commanding watchOnce in the waves, the watch, which has a screw-down crown, is water resistant to 100 meters. The proportions are spot on, and the weight is nice and low. This is a watch you can wear all day, every day. And when you do, you will become that person with the white watch. Is that a bad thing? You tell me. This watch will get noticed, and so will you; its as simple as that.This watch tells you to stay in shape and pay attention to what youre wearing. Im not saying this watch is all about looks, but in a way, it is. You dont wear a white watch because you have nothing else to put on your wrist. You dont wear a white watch to stay under the radar. This watch is as much a style statement as it is the product of a traditional watchmaker. The energetic small secondsThe biggest tell-tale sign that this last-ever Surfer is not just about looks is the energetic small seconds display at 6 o clock. The 1/10th-of-a-second hand is driven directly from the escapement of the El Primero 3620 SK caliber. This in-house 5Hz (36,000vph) movement with a hacking seconds mechanism that allows for precise time setting is semi-visible through the star-shaped dial.The see-through case back offers an uninterrupted view of the blue rotor. This star-shaped oscillating weight is connected to a bidirectional winding system, which keeps the 55-hour power reserve topped off. Beneath the rotor, you can also see that the mainplate and bridges received a matching blue finish.Final wordsThe Zenith Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic might show a carefree, hang-loose attitude, but the price of CHF 18,900 / $20,500 / US$19,600 likely requires some serious consideration. That s not exactly an amount of money most people would casually spend. But since the news of this limited-edition watch broke a week ago, you had a bit of time to think things through and find the necessary funds. Today is the day to act. When you do, you get a shiny white ceramic watch limited to just 100 pieces. The fresh looks are complemented by an open dial that fades from dark and mysterious deep-sea blue at the top to a breezy and casual light blue at the bottom. The looks are distinctive, and the technique is proven and very Zenith, especially the 12-sided bezel and the fast-beating El Primero movement.If you want the watch, dont hesitate to surf to either Time+Tide Watches or Zenith to find out if you can catch the perfect wave, the Zenith Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic.Watch specifications Brand Zenith Model Time+Tide Defy Skyline Skeleton White Surfer CeramicReference 49.9309.3620/85.I001Dial Gradient blue with white minute and sub-seconds rings, open-worked, rhodium-plated and faceted indexes and hands with Super-LumiNova SLN C1Case Material White ceramic with brushed finishCase Dimensions 41mm (diameter) 46mm (length) 11.6mm (thickness)Crystal SapphireCase Back White ceramic and sapphire crystal, affixed with four screws Movement Zenith El Primero 3620 SK: skeletonized in-house caliber, automatic with manual winding and hacking, 36,000vph frequency, 60-hour power reserve, 30 jewels, light blue mainplate, bridges, and rotor with satin finishWater Resistance 100 meters (10 ATM)Strap White ceramic H-link bracelet and white star-patterned rubber strap, both with butterfly claspFunctions Time only (central hours and minutes, 1/10th-of-a-second sub-dial)Price CHF 18,900 / $20,500 / US$19,600 Special Note(s) Limited edition of 100 pieces