In Between Sizes? Spending Time With The Zenith Defy Skyline 36

It is no secret to regular readers that I like the Zenith Defy line of watches. These are some of the very few integrated-bracelet sports watches with a clear identity. They do not take the design-first approach of, say, a Royal Oak, nor do they strive for elegance like a Laureato. Zenith, instead, pushes into more technical, modern territory. My gripe, however, has always been size. The models I tried always felt a tad too big and bulky for my taste and style.

So when Zenith released a 36mm version, that piqued my interest. Could this be the one? I spent some time with a blue Zenith Defy Skyline 36 to find out.

The Zenith Defy Skyline 36

Let’s start with the basics, though. What we have here is a 36mm by 40.6mm stainless steel sports watch with a 10.4mm case thickness. It comes with an integrated stainless bracelet with a very good quick-release mechanism. This allows for easy switching to the included blue rubber strap. Up top sits a flat sapphire crystal, mirrored by a second one in the display case back. Zenith specifies the watch’s water resistance at 100 meters.

Inside ticks the automatic Zenith Elite caliber 670 at a common 28,800vph frequency. There are no high-beat shenanigans here but a true in-house caliber nonetheless, should that interest you. Zenith promises 50 hours of autonomy on a full wind. The caliber has a mere 3.88mm profile. This makes me wonder why the watch couldn’t be slimmer. With a movement that thin, a sub-10mm case thickness should have been possible while retaining the 100m depth rating. I will come back to why this matters later on.

The dial is perhaps the Zenith Defy Skyline 36’s most eye-catching element. Its blue surface features both a sunray effect and an intricate motif of indented four-pointed stars. The pattern jumps out as the cutouts are a little deeper than on most patterned dials. An applied Zenith star sits above the brand’s signature. The Super-LumiNova-filled faceted indexes are all of the same size and shape. Only the one at 3 o’clock is absent, making way for a dial-matching blue date wheel.

Wearing the Zenith Defy Skyline 36

So, with the bookkeeping out of the way, let’s move on to my experience with the Zenith Defy Skyline 36. As you can see from the photos, I received a well-worn example. I actually liked this because we usually get squeaky-clean, perfect samples. This battered specimen allowed me to experience the watch as it would look after several years of intensive wear. I must say, it wears its scars well!

Another thing that immediately jumped out at me was the redistribution of proportions. The 36mm Zenith Defy feels a bit compressed. This may sound odd, but I think I could have spotted that this is a shrunken-down version of a larger watch even if I hadn’t known. Part of this is due to the 10.4mm thickness. I know that sounds like a very thin watch, but this somehow feels a little bit tubby nonetheless. As mentioned above, I reckon Zenith’s engineers could have shaved off close to a full millimeter if they had honestly tried.

As I shoved my hand through and let the watch land on my left wrist, I immediately saw that this wasn’t the version for me. I love a good 36mm watch, but this Defy Skyline’s proportions make it feel a little odd on my 17.5cm wrist. The lug-to-lug is a bit too short for the bracelet to take on a natural angle where it meets the case. Consequently, the watch sat too upright in the middle of my wrist rather than wrapping around it, as an integrated-bracelet sports watch should.

So, who is the Zenith Defy Skyline 36 for?

I think Zenith knows this. Although the Zenith Defy Skyline 36 is formally classified as unisex, all the marketing focuses entirely on the female clientele. All the models showing the watch are female. This dark blue version is perhaps the most neutral of the bunch, but many other versions are executed in ways typical of how watch brands target women — with pastel colors and diamonds.

As a 1.91m/6’3” guy, this looks a bit dainty on me. I don’t mind this with more classical, elegant watches. However, the Zenith Defy Skyline, as mentioned, looks technical and modern. This somehow clashes, dictating a slightly larger size.

Does that mean I don’t think this is a unisex watch? Well, not exactly. If you have a thin wrist, allowing the bracelet to drape naturally from the short length of the case, I reckon this would look quite good. That includes men and women. However, if you are a bigger guy with a taste for more classical watch sizes, I don’t think this is for you.

Closing thoughts

I often find myself in between sizes nowadays. More and more watch companies offer multiple sizes of the same watch, which I applaud. However, more often than not, that means they make a big one and a small one rather than one that is just right. I reckon a 38–39mm version (and preferably thinner) would be spot on. It might even be unisex straight away, negating the need for a second size.

Therefore, I will not be adding the 36mm version to my collection, although I can certainly see why others would. The quality is certainly there, and the Defy Skyline exudes a clear style of its own. But besides the size, I have a second problem — the price. At €9,100, this is significantly more expensive than, say, a Rolex Explorer or an Omega Aqua Terra, which are both quite pricey already. I cannot speak to manufacturing costs and markups, but I can say that I don’t experience that gap when handling the watch.

All in all, I can recommend the Zenith Defy Skyline 36 but only to very specific buyers with specific demands. It is a very good watch, but it feels ever-so-slightly compromised compared to its larger siblings.

What do you think of the Zenith Defy Skyline 36? Let us know in the comments section below!