The Collision of Two Worlds!
When worlds collide, extraordinary things happen. That’s exactly what occurred when Zenith partnered once again with renowned contemporary artist Felipe Pantone. The result? The DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone is a limited-edition timepiece that pushes the limits of what a watch can look like and represent.
This marks the third collaboration between the Swiss watchmaker and the Argentine-Spanish artist, proving this isn’t just a one-time affair; it’s an evolving artistic relationship.
This 2025 limited edition piece isn’t just an accessory, it’s a fusion of art, technology, and movement. For those who live at the intersection of style and storytelling, this watch represents what happens when two disciplines speak a common visual language.
Who is Felipe Pantone?
Felipe Pantone is a Buenos Aires-born, Valencia-based artist known for merging street art, digital design, and kinetic energy into hypnotic color gradients and futuristic illusions. His works have graced gallery walls and skyscrapers alike, always exploring light, perception, and motion.
Pantone’s work thrives on contrast: digital and analog, static and dynamic. It’s this tension that made him a natural creative partner for Zenith, whose own history is rooted in pushing the boundaries of mechanical innovation.
The Watch at a Glance
The DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone is more than a timepiece, it’s a statement. Only 100 pieces were made, and every detail is dialed into Pantone’s kinetic language.
The 41mm octagonal stainless steel case features a dodecagonal bezel engraved with “FELIPE PANTONE” typography, a tribute to graffiti roots and graphic rhythm. The iridescent sapphire dial uses micro-engraving techniques to create a moiré effect that shifts in light, resembling Pantone’s color palette.
At 6 o’clock, a rainbow-toned lightning bolt bridge frames the flying tourbillon, an emblem of both high horology and high-voltage design.
It’s wearable art. But it’s also a mechanical powerhouse.
Inside the Case: El Primero 3630
At its core is the El Primero 3630 calibre, Zenith’s high-frequency automatic tourbillon movement. Beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour with a 60-hour power reserve, it blends technical muscle with visual spectacle.
Zenith’s chronograph legacy has always set the benchmark for precision, but in this piece, accuracy isn’t the only objective. The calibre acts as a canvas for kinetic expression, each oscillation echoing the pulse of Pantone’s optical illusions.
Color, Light, and Texture
Design is where this piece becomes sculpture. The interplay of finishes: matte, polished, iridescent, creates a multilayered viewing experience. The iridescent sapphire dial was produced using advanced laser-etching techniques and features pixelated motifs, angular transitions, and high-contrast gradients that reference Pantone’s canvas work.
The lightning bolt motif on the tourbillon bridge isn’t just ornamental. It echoes Pantone’s frequent use of energetic geometry and digital symbols. Even the watch’s flange is decorated with prismatic color bars that subtly shift as light hits the face.
The watch comes with an interchangeable bracelet system: a steel bracelet for industrial sharpness and a rubber strap featuring a pixel motif in gradient colors, crafted to mirror the watch face. Every detail, from the cut of the indices to the subtle hues in the movement, feels deeply intentional and unmistakably Pantone.
Art and Horology
Zenith and Pantone first teamed up in 2021, and each collaboration since has explored deeper integration between watchmaking and kinetic art. While other brands might dabble in artist collabs as trend pieces, Zenith has built a dialogue.
Collectors are taking note. The previous two Zenith x Pantone editions sold out quickly and continue to rise in secondary market value. This newest release is poised to do the same, offering something rare: a limited edition that isn’t just limited in number but rich in vision.
Why It Matters in 2025
This isn’t about branding, it’s about vision. At a time when much of the luxury watch world leans heavily into heritage, Zenith shows what it means to embrace evolution.
The DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone bridges the collector community and contemporary art lovers. It represents a growing trend of cross-disciplinary design, not watered-down fashion collabs, but meaningful craftsmanship that redefines both mediums.
