Zenith Honors Breast Cancer Awareness Month With A New Pink Take On Its Defy Skyline

Since it began in 1985, Breast Cancer Awareness Month has kicked off on October 1, ushering in a sweeping, international campaign committed to cultivating community, spreading educational resources, and bringing attention to one of the most pressing causes of cancer mortality. For the third consecutive year, Zenith has announced a limited-edition model made as a symbol of its commitment to the cause. The 2024 model is a 100-piece limited edition from its Defy Skyline series, complete with a pink dial, with 20% of proceeds going directly to one of the top champions of Breast Cancer research and resources, the nonprofit Susan G. Komen Foundation. 

The Defy Skyline Pink Edition is preceded by equally pink takes on the brand’s Chronomaster Original in 2022, and its Chronomaster Sport in 2023. And while it is often easy to be skeptical about charitable editions of any consumer goods, Zenith has really put its money where its mouth is, contributing over $700,000 since it began offering its continued support in 2022. As to where that sizeable chunk of change is going, Susan G. Komen not only funds critical research studies to figure out new ways to prevent and treat the disease, but also offers information, resources, and financial assistance to aid patients and families in getting the help they need in the face of illness, along with the educational tools to help people seek preventative help. 

As its name suggests, the real weight behind the Defy Skyline Pink Edition is that symbolic pink dial, which is adorned with the familiar geometric pattern of the Defy line, with its signature four-pointed stars in gridded lines. In addition to that lattice-like effect, the dial also features a sunburst satin finish, which helps that pink hue bounce light that touches it back, to dramatic effect. The hours are marked by faceted, rectangular indices filled with Super-LumiNova, which adds to the overall sporty feel of the piece. The color-matched date window at three o’clock is, to my eye, balanced out by the 1/10-second subdial at 9 o’clock, and the only other major detail of the dial is the Zenith logo at 12 o'clock, printed just below the quintessential 3-D star icon.

Like its other Defy Skyline siblings, this piece features the octagonal case shape along with the 12-sided bezel that imparts the complex sense of geometry that defines the line. This piece features one of those sneaky quick-change strap systems, which allows its wearer to switch between the über-sporty stainless steel bracelet and the additional white rubber strap. It wouldn’t be a Defy Skyline without the help of a powerhouse of a movement within, and this piece is equipped with the brand’s latest El Primero movement, the high-frequency El Primero 3620 automatic caliber, which beats at 5 Hz and has a power reserve of 60 hours.

I am something of a small-watch fanatic, and my knee-jerk reaction is typically to write off any piece over 40mm (and usually even smaller than that). However, I have tried on several iterations of the Defy Skyline now, and each time, I am surprised with how much I like it. The short lugs are angled just-so, allowing the piece and bracelet to sit snuggly on my sub-six-inch wrist, which is a feat in and of itself. Additionally, with purpose-driven, special editions such as this, aside from benefitting the charitable source in question through financial means, a large part of the goal is largely symbolic, and to create a physical object that will spark and continue on the conversation. With its bright pink dial contrasting with its robustly sporty aesthetic, this piece is prepared to do that, both during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond.

Zenith Defy Skyline Pink Edition

The Zenith Defy Skyline Pink Edition is limited to 100 pieces total and is available now at an MSRP of $10,300.