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Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph 42mm Mens Watch Silver Interchangeable Strap
Ref. 03.9500.3600/01.I001
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Stepping up in Zenith's range
The Defy Skyline revives a geometry Zenith first used in the original Defy of 1969 — the octagonal case with a faceted bezel — and pairs it with the El Primero 3600, which was built specifically to display a tenth of a second in real time rather than as a calculated average. That central hand sweeps at 5 Hz, completing a full rotation every ten seconds, and the scale ring around the dial rim gives it something legible to point at. It is a chronograph that was designed around one specific capability, and the architecture of the dial follows from that. The sunray silver dial is engraved with Zenith's four-pointed star across its full surface, which means the texture shifts as the light moves — flat-on it reads clean and almost restrained, but at an angle the whole thing animates. The three sub-dials are stacked vertically rather than arranged symmetrically, which is unusual, and it gives the layout an unhurried quality that the high-frequency movement does not obviously suggest. Through the caseback, the El Primero is fully visible at 36,000 vph, running noticeably faster than a conventional automatic. The quick-change system means the bracelet and the included green rubber strap swap without tools, and the two together cover a reasonable range of contexts without requiring a second watch.
- Reference
- 03.9500.3600/01.I001
- Brand
- Zenith
- Collection
- Defy
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 12.7mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Silver
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- El Primero 3600
- Functions
- Chronograph, Date, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 60 hours
- Strap
- Interchangeable
Learn more about Zenith
Georges Favre-Jacot founded Zenith in Le Locle in 1865, aged twenty-two, with an idea that was radical for the Swiss industry: bring every trade needed to make a watch — movement, case, dial, hands — under one roof and one management. The integrated manufacture was largely his invention, and the Le Locle site he built is still in use.
The approach produced results at observatory trials, where Zenith accumulated more precision awards than any other manufacture. The name itself came from a calibre Favre-Jacot considered the summit of his work.
Its defining achievement is the El Primero of 1969, developed over seven years and announced in the same year as the Heuer-Breitling consortium's Calibre 11 and Seiko's 6139. It was an integrated automatic chronograph beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour, allowing measurement to a tenth of a second — a frequency almost nothing else matched for decades.
It nearly did not survive. When American owners ordered the mechanical tooling scrapped during the quartz crisis, a watchmaker named Charles Vermot hid the plans, presses, and cams in a walled-off attic. When demand for mechanical chronographs returned, Zenith could restart production because of him. Rolex used the El Primero in the Daytona from 1988 to 2000.
LVMH acquired Zenith in 1999.
- 1865
- Georges Favre-Jacot founds the integrated manufacture at Le Locle.
- 1969
- The El Primero automatic chronograph debuts at 36,000 vph.
- 1975
- Charles Vermot hides the El Primero tooling from destruction.
- 1988
- Rolex adopts the El Primero for the Daytona.
- 1999
- Acquired by LVMH.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in the Zenith Defy range (23), Back in Stock (4,007), Stainless Steel Watches (2,833), Automatic Watches (1,417), Chronograph Watches (1,131) and Silver Dial Watches (630).
Best of 2 retailers
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Zenith Defy Skyline alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | 03.9500.3600/01.I001 | 81010-11-3592-1GM | G0A49022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £12,500 | £12,600 | £12,900 |
| Case size | 42mm | 42mm | 42mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 60 hours | 54 hours | 50 hours |
| This watch | Closely matched | Closely matched |
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 60 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Both Mappin & Webb and Goldsmiths list it at £12,500, so choose on delivery and warranty rather than price.
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