ZENITH Collaborates with Contemporary Artist FELIPE PANTONE on the Third Limited Edition DEFY SKYLINE Tourbillon Watch

The worlds of contemporary art and haute horlogerie converge once again, offering watch enthusiasts and collectors a vibrant fusion of color and visual dynamism. ZENITH, Switzerland's first vertically integrated modern watch manufacture, has joined forces with globally renowned contemporary artist Felipe Pantone for their third collaborative series. The result is the DEFY Skyline Felipe Pantone Special Edition Tourbillon, limited to 100 pieces, officially unveiled on August 27, 2024, with global sales beginning on September 12. Priced at NT$ 2,183,800, it is noteworthy that the only piece available in Taiwan was already reserved by a buyer at today's launch event, underscoring the exceptional allure of this collaborative masterpiece.

This remarkable timepiece, which seamlessly blends the art of fine watchmaking with extraordinary artistic value, was unveiled at TING TING ART SPACE, a venue steeped in contemporary art ambiance. The location perfectly echoes the contemporary artistic qualities embedded in the watch. The event featured special guest Sphinx Ting, a well-known actor, curator, and one of the driving forces behind this new-generation art space. With hundreds of curatorial experiences and personal admiration for Felipe Pantone’s global solo exhibitions and public art projects, Sphinx Ting shared his insights on the extraordinary creative features and innovative artistic value of this contemporary artist.

Light, Color, Movement: Curator Sphinx Ting Discusses the Innovative Artistic Value of FELIPE PANTONE

Sphinx Ting remarked that Felipe Pantone masterfully combines visual theory and kinetics, perfectly aligning with the evolving aesthetics of our time. Building on the foundations of color theory, Pantone has developed a comprehensive creative system, incorporating concepts of data and kinetics. His work has firmly established itself in the contemporary art world, capturing the attention of audiences worldwide. Beyond his interactive personal works, Felipe Pantone has also completed numerous large-scale public art creations, bringing a digitalized visual art revolution to the masses.

As a watch enthusiast with a diverse collection of timepieces for different occasions, Sphinx Ting emphasized that ZENITH has been experimenting with bold, avant-garde designs since the 1970s, combining art and culture to establish a distinctive brand style. This latest collaboration, featuring a tourbillon mechanism powered by mechanical dynamics, aligns perfectly with Felipe Pantone's kinetic art concept and incorporates iconic elements of color theory. The watch is exceptionally rare, with undeniable collectible value. "I have a particular interest in special timepieces, especially tourbillons, which symbolize top-tier technology and exquisite craftsmanship. The concept of art collaborations has always been irresistible to me," he shared.
 

In 2020, Felipe Pantone covered the historic ZENITH watch manufacture's façade with specially designed waterproof canvas, creating a rare large-scale art installation that remains a topic of interest in both the watchmaking and art communities. Since then, ZENITH and the Valencia-based visual artist have launched several watch collections together, including the limited-edition DEFY 21 series, which sold out immediately after its release in 2021; the DEFY 21 Double Tourbillon watch with a fully transparent sapphire case, which set a new auction record for ZENITH at the 2021 Only Watch charity auction; and the highly anticipated DEFY Extreme Felipe Pantone watch in 2022, which also became a sought-after piece in the market.

Now, the ZENITH DEFY Skyline Tourbillon, beloved by watch enthusiasts and collectors worldwide, has become Felipe Pantone's new canvas. For the first time, he has applied his creativity to the DEFY Skyline series, marking the third collaborative series between the two. This masterpiece intricately merges ZENITH and Felipe Pantone's signature original details, resulting in a piece that is both refined and versatile, once again showcasing the seamless integration of contemporary art and top-tier watchmaking.

Discussing the latest collaboration with ZENITH, Felipe Pantone stated: "I am honored to collaborate with ZENITH on this new generation of watches. This is our most outstanding piece to date. It is a masterpiece of haute horlogerie, embodying both simplicity and sophistication, complexity and minimalism, with stunning details including delicate gradient hour markers and hands, a mirrored 'Planned Iridescence' dial, and a unique lightning-shaped tourbillon."

The ZENITH DEFY Skyline Felipe Pantone Tourbillon watch features a 41mm twelve-sided stainless steel case with highly geometric and angular contours, providing the perfect frame for the dynamic micro-art within. The alternation of satin-brushed and polished finishes, paired with an easily interchangeable stainless steel bracelet and black rubber strap, focuses the observer's attention on the ergonomic and visual appeal of this unisex watch. The sharp edges and smoothly polished twelve-sided bezel create an exquisite play of light and shadow. Continuing the theme of previous collaborations, the four corners of the lugs are delicately engraved with the inscription "FPT1," representing Felipe Pantone Tourbillon #1.

Notably, this special edition watch breaks away from traditional tourbillon conventions, featuring a screw-down crown and 100 meters of water resistance. This means that with the quick-change rubber strap, the watch is not only a work of art for display cases or safes but also a functional piece suitable for daily wear, combining the waterproof, practical, and durable qualities of an outdoor timepiece. This micro-dynamic art on the wrist allows for the appreciation of the tourbillon's graceful movements anytime, anywhere, paying tribute to Felipe Pantone's roots in street art.

The centerpiece of the DEFY Skyline Felipe Pantone Tourbillon watch's dial immediately captures the observer's attention. Through the openwork at the 6 o'clock position, the tourbillon mechanism's beauty can be fully admired, rotating once every 60 seconds to keep the watch in constant motion. The lightning-shaped tourbillon bridge is a unique design created specifically for this collaborative watch and is a classic element frequently seen in Felipe Pantone's multimedia works. The tourbillon bridge and four-pointed star frame are crafted using 3D PVD technology, creating a metallic iridescent gradient effect, first introduced in the 2021 collaboration. This effect once again conveys the distinctive aesthetics of this contemporary artist.

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