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Zenith Defy Skyline 36mm Steel and Diamonds Automatic Watch - Blue
Ref. 16.9400.670/51.I001
The Defy Skyline sits at the sharper end of Zenith's modern design thinking — the octagonal case and faceted geometry are a deliberate break from the round dress watches the house built its reputation on, a declaration that the Defy line exists in a different register entirely. This 36mm version makes that geometry accessible to a broader range of wrists without softening the angularity that gives the collection its character. The sunburst blue dial is engraved with Zenith's four-pointed star motif rather than printed, which means the pattern reads differently depending on how the light strikes it — flat on, it is almost invisible; at an angle, the whole surface comes alive. The diamond-set bezel, 52 VVS brilliant-cut stones totalling approximately one carat, adds brilliance without pulling the watch into purely decorative territory; the structural lines of the case keep it grounded. A sapphire caseback exposes the Elite 670, a manufacture movement that runs at 28,800bph and delivers around 50 hours of reserve — capable and unhurried, as befits a calibre Zenith has refined over decades. The quick-swap system between the steel bracelet and the included blue rubber strap requires no tools, which on a watch this versatile is less a feature than a sensible acknowledgement of how it will actually be worn.
- Reference
- 16.9400.670/51.I001
- Brand
- Zenith
- Collection
- Defy
- Case size
- 36mm
- Case thickness
- 10.35mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Octagonal
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- Elite 670
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Folding clasp
- Lume
- Super-LumiNova
- Condition
- Ex-display
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 50 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
- Gem set
- Yes
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 7 collections
This watch appears in the Zenith Defy range (23), Stainless Steel Watches (2,833), Watches Under 37mm (1,509), Automatic Watches (1,417), Blue Dial Watches (780), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (284) and Diamond Watches (94).
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- 36mm suits most wrists
- 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 | 16.9400.670/51.I001 | 126200 | LONGITUDE-SS-R-S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £11,300 | £9,550 | £10,995 |
| Case size | 36mm | 36mm | 40mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 50 hours | 70 hours | 65 hours |
| This watch |
|
|
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 50 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 unisex, and at this size it suits any wrist that takes the dimensions.
Cheapest place to buy
Mappin & Webb is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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