Since its foundation in 1865, Zenith has been reinventing the art of horlogerie. From day one, the visionary founder Georges Favre-Jacot bucked the status quo of the établissage model – the then-nigh-ubiquitous system in the local Jura area, whereby numerous specialised artisans worked on different parts of each timepiece before assembly – by bringing all design and production into his atelier. In doing so, he united his manufacture under one roof and one vision: to craft the perfect watch.

For 160 years, Zenith has been carving its own path with advanced technologies while capturing the spirit of the time in its creations. Now, the maison is celebrating this milestone with limited editions of its most iconic releases, starting with the Defy Skyline chronograph. Inspired by the 1969 Defy, the structured 42mm case and multi-faceted bezel become even more striking in coloured ceramic for the first time. Its rich blue shade was developed especially for the occasion to symbolise the bright, starlit sky that inspired the company name. This new take on the watchmaker’s signature blue hue speaks to its technical mastery – coloured ceramics are challenging to formulate and require advanced techniques to preserve their colour during shaping and finishing.

The Defy Skyline is the first of a sky-hued trio of timepieces created especially for the anniversary. Limited to 160 units each, the beating heart of each is the high-frequency chronograph El Primero 3600, a remarkably precise movement with a story to tell. As Zenith weathered the 1970s quartz crisis, company watchmaker Charles Vermot had the foresight to stow away the intricate tools required to build El Primero for better times. Thanks to him, the maison subsequently revived El Primero and continued honing it to become the modern movement in use today.

The limited editions can be purchased individually or as a set in a specially created anniversary box – but that’s not all the maison has in store for its anniversary year. The box can also include the GFJ, another 160-unit limited edition designed as part of the year’s celebrations. Named with the initials of its founder, the model brings back another legendary movement and tells another chapter of Zenith’s quest for perfection – initiated by Georges Favre-Jacot and upheld for 160 years.