Zenith Blue Ceramic 160th Anniversary Watches
We’ve said it before and we’ll keep saying it until we’re blue in the face – watchmaking brands love anniversaries, and 2025 will have a lot of them, including 160 years of watchmaking for Zenith. While 160 might not be the most celebrated number, that hasn’t stopped the brand from going all out. If you’ve been following its social media channels, you’ve probably guessed what the theme is: blue. For this special anniversary, Zenith has spruced up three of its core collections in a bold and vibrant blue ceramic. Introducing the Zenith Blue Ceramic Pilot’s Big Date Flyback 160th Anniversary, the Defy Skyline Chronograph 160th Anniversary, and the Chronomaster Sport 160th Anniversary – three bold pieces that I got to try out ahead of their release, and spoiler alert, I was heartbroken when I had to send them back.
While Zenith is no stranger to color, it does return to blue quite often. The brand’s name is inspired by the highest point in the night sky – a symbol of achievement and success – making the stars and terrestrial skies a recurring theme in its logo and color scheme. While this (as with most brands) is a romanticization and marketing ploy, it appeals to my tendencies as a space and watch fan, and Zenith has accomplished this masterfully. Deep, vivid, and powerful, the specific blue hue that is present in Zenith’s products, manufacturing, website, and social media is no small feat, which makes achieving it in ceramic no small feat.
For those unfamiliar with ceramic watchmaking, coloring is an extremely difficult task. Many colors burn out when the ceramic is fired. If any remain, the saturation or hue of the color is often different. Fortunately, coloring capabilities have come a long way. In this case, the result is three stunning blue ceramic watches with a variety of finishes and some of the comfort you’d expect to see in a luxury watch. First up is the Pilot.
Zenith Blue Ceramic Pilot Big Date Flyback 160th Anniversary Edition
In 2023, Zenith introduced a new Pilot watch collection that follows the name it trademarked in 1904 for wristwatches and dashboard instruments. As the only brand that can actually put the word on a dial, the new Pilot collection has a huge responsibility on its shoulders—and it does exactly that. There have been a few line extensions and limited editions since then, and the new 160th Anniversary Edition is one of the biggest departures from this mostly plain collection. The 41mm-wide, 14.25mm-thick, 52mm lug-to-lug ceramic case is micro-blasted to a smooth matte finish. This finish is the same as the other ceramic models, but for a premium anniversary edition like this, I would have preferred to see brushed and polished finishes on the stainless steel models. The blunt lugs curve down slightly to fit the wrist, and because of the downward slope at the ends, it wears shorter than the 52mm length. At 14.25mm thick, it’s not easily hidden when viewed from the side, but considering that nearly 2mm of that is box-shaped sapphire crystal, it’s negligible.
Beneath the crystal is a matte blue dial with the same horizontal stripe pattern found on all new Zenith Pilot watches. Whether reminiscent of a fuselage or high-priced luggage, this pattern contrasts nicely with the polished applique hour markers, which are filled with green Super-LumiNova. Two oversized subdials (a running seconds hand at nine o’clock and a thirty-minute totalizer at three o’clock) take up a good portion of the dial real estate and inconspicuously cut into the hour markers, which will surely annoy some enthusiasts. The Zenith logo is printed along with the polished applique star pattern below the twelve o’clock position, which complements the large date window and “Pilot” text above the six o’clock bar marker. The layout is visually appealing, symmetric and, most importantly, legible even as the glossy white sword-shaped hands sweep across the subdials. The bases of the hour and minute hands are painted matte blue to blend in with the dial, while the white and luminescent tips extend to the edges of the hour markers and full-scale minute track, respectively.
Contrasting against the almost shocking azure blue are a set of brushed and polished rectangular titanium pushers and a large modern onion-shaped crown for operating the in-house El Primero 3652 automatic movement. This is the same movement found in the standard production Pilot, and it’s a joy to operate, with clear, satisfying pusher actuations, a flyback function and a quick-set date mechanism. It runs at 36,000 VpH (5Hz) and maintains a 60-hour power reserve. It’s viewable through a sapphire caseback, and features a special 160th anniversary skeletonized rotor. The caseback is secured by four screws, and it’s water-resistant up to 100 meters.
The soft grey of the titanium crown and pushers pairs perfectly with the Zenith blue hue, and I wish the strap would reflect that hue as well. However, the Zenith Blue Ceramic Pilot’s Chronograph Big Date Flyback 160th Anniversary comes with two blue and white Cordura-effect rubber straps, both with steel butterfly folding clasps. I’m not a fan of this clasp, personally. It’s long, finicky, and often gets caught when closed, but you may feel differently. Fortunately, both straps feature Zenith’s tool-free change mechanism, which hooks directly onto a standard spring bar. If I were to purchase this watch, I’d probably go for the grey NATO-style strap. I wish Zenith would offer a strap with titanium hardware to match the crown and pushers, and I’m also leaning into the Pilot name. For now, the Blue Ceramic Pilot’s Chronograph Flyback 160th Anniversary is an interesting expansion to the relatively new line, and a good choice if you can stomach the colour blue. best replica watch site
Zenith Blue Ceramic Defy Skyline Chronograph 160th Anniversary Edition
Arguably the most modern design in the Zenith catalog is its Defy Skyline on an integrated bracelet. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes, with or without gemstones—take your pick—you can go for complex, dazzling or psychedelic, even in ceramic—but until today it was only available in black and polarized white. I won’t say much, the blue one is just awesome. This ultra-faceted modern design shines in steel and titanium, but the unpainted ceramic version has always left me cold. The case’s best features are either shrouded in darkness or washed away by a flash of white. But in blue, the stark transitions between brushed and polished edges, the bevels on each link, and the quirky trapezoidal cuboid pushers and dodecahedron bezel are all very eye-catching. It’s a symphony of architectural modernity—a snapshot of today’s luxury industry, with quiet and loud luxury competing for headlines. As the pendulum swings back toward the latter, Zenith has hit it big with one of the hottest (albeit dated) trends, the integrated bracelet, and it’s taking it to the climax in a blue so vivid that LVMH’s sister brand might need earplugs. That might seem a bit over the top, but the fact is that this iteration (really, a new version of an existing design) resonates with me even when the others haven’t. Now, just because I’m praising this Zenith Blue Ceramic Defy Skyline Chronograph 160th Anniversary Edition doesn’t mean it’s perfect—it has its faults, which we’ll get to. But first, a few specs that you can skip if you’re familiar with the model, as they’re all identical except for the blue color.
The Blue Ceramic Integrated Bracelet case is 42mm wide, 12.7mm thick, and 47.4mm lug-to-lug, not including the bracelet curvature. But as you can see from the photos on my 6.6-inch wrist, the added length of the ceramic bracelet and blue rubber strap when draped around my wrist isn’t an issue, and probably won’t be an issue for wrists 6.25 inches or larger. The case is brushed and polished for a very refined look. When ceramic is expertly finished this way, it looks like a lifelike rendering, and it will stay that way thanks to ceramic’s incredible hardness. It won’t scratch, but it may shatter if you knock on it too hard—buyer beware.
The 160th Anniversary El Primero 3600 automatic movement is visible through the flat sapphire crystals on the front and back. It beats at 5Hz, has a 60-hour power reserve, and features a Zenith 1/10-second chronograph. Subdials at three, six, and nine o’clock feature a sixty-second counter, a sixty-minute counter, and a running seconds hand, respectively. Each subdial is snailed to contrast with the semi-glossy dial, which is adorned with the Defy collection’s four-pointed star motif. The matching chapter ring features a 1/10 second scale, and a set of beveled polished baton hands are easy to read at a glance. The date is at the 4:30 position, which will continue to be a source of complaint. I wish it was moved to the 6 o’clock position on the Defy Skyline, as the design is more modern and the symmetry is appropriate, but this is not a big issue for me. The ceramic pushers and matching screw-down crown operate the movement as expected, with clear tactile starts and resets, while ensuring ample water resistance of 10ATM. The ceramic crown does have some sharp edges that will snag on clothing, but not enough to cause any irritation to the back of the wrist when in use. The bracelet and included rubber strap use a tool-free replacement system that is easy and secure, but the bracelet does require a tool for resizing using the pin and collar structure. The rubber strap uses the same butterfly folding clasp mentioned earlier, while the bracelet uses a standard two-button butterfly clasp with no micro-adjustment feature. This is a big downfall of many watches with integrated bracelets. Fine adjustments with this style of clasp are certainly possible and should be included in this price point, but more on that later.
Zenith Chronomaster Sport 160th Anniversary in Blue Ceramic
Last but not least, there’s the Chronomaster Sport – the first all-ceramic model in the collection and a serious contender for the GADA title. While the standard Chronomaster Sport bears more than a passing resemblance to other popular luxury chronographs (David has compared them in case you missed them), the Blue Ceramic 160th Anniversary stands out in its own right, sporting one of the best dials Zenith has produced in recent years. Likewise, the dimensions are familiar, measuring 41mm in diameter, 13.6mm thick, and 47mm from lug to lug. The same 160th anniversary El Primero 3600 automatic movement as the Defy Skyline is visible through the sapphire caseback, and the dial follows the same layout with a running seconds hand at 9 o’clock, a 60-minute counter at 6 o’clock, a 60-second counter at 3 o’clock, and the date at 4:30. Maybe I’m a bit of a traditionalist, but the 4:30 date on the Chronomaster Sport works for me, as it feels more like a traditional El Primero than a Defy Skyline, so I wouldn’t choose to move it here. Full ceramic pump-style pushers operate the 1/10-second 5Hz chronograph, and the screw-down crown ensures 100 meters of water resistance. grand seiko replica watch
The fully polished ceramic bezel is engraved with a 1/10-second scale filled with non-luminous white ink. It overhangs the body of the case slightly, so it looks larger than it actually is when viewed straight on. The case sides are fully polished, with gentle curves flowing along the length of the middle case and wrapping into the bevels of the lugs. The ceramic case has a sharp transition to the brushed top surfaces of the lugs, integrating almost seamlessly with the end links of the bracelet. The fully articulated three-link bracelet is brushed and polished with crisp bevels. It drapes smoothly over the wrist, features double-sided screws, and ends with a standard flip-lock clasp. Still, Zenith doesn’t have an instant fine-adjustment mechanism, so this full-ceramic clasp has an outdated, almost unacceptable spring-bar adjustment with five size positions. I talk about this often, but comfort is a top priority when wearing a watch.
While the blue ceramic case is indeed the highlight of this watch and the 160th collection, the dial of this Chronomaster Sport is something very special. The traditional three-color overlapping subdials feature stepped and snailed interiors and raised edges. The background of the dial is a deep, rich blue with a subtle lapis lazuli-like marbling in most lighting conditions, but it comes alive through a subtle sunburst finish that I couldn’t capture with my camera. The semi-glossy surface has noticeable depth, and the printed minute track, “Swiss Made” text, and “Zenith El Primero 36000 vph” branding appear to float slightly above the blue base color. While subtle and not everyone can see it with the naked eye, this detail takes this Chronomaster Sport to the next level, making it one of my favorite branded dials in recent years. The dial is finished with rhodium-plated hour markers and matching hands, both with Super-LumiNova for legibility in low-light conditions. The dial is covered with a flat sapphire crystal that is almost invisible in certain situations. A blue rubber strap is also included, which complements the word “Sports”.
As far as anniversaries go, the 160th is certainly impressive. It may not be as grand as a round number like 150, or as prestigious as a 200th anniversary, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth celebrating. With that in mind, and the fact that watch brands often overuse insignificant anniversaries, I feel like this 160th anniversary collection strikes a perfect balance. It celebrates a worthy anniversary while showcasing three of the brand’s famous El Primero chronographs in well-made, beautifully finished modern materials and eye-catching colors. I doubt this will be the last we see of this blue ceramic, and I look forward to more, as it’s the perfect hue in my opinion. swiss urwerk replica watches
