White Heat: ZENITH and Time+Tide Drop the DEFY Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic
The trilogy that began in the shadows ends in blinding light. ZENITH and Time+Tide have officially wrapped up their Surfer saga with the DEFY Skyline Skeleton White Surfer Ceramic—a summer-ready final chapter that ditches the dark aesthetic of its predecessors for something brighter, bolder, and unapologetically fresh.
Back in 2021, the DEFY Classic Skeleton Night Surfer introduced a new kind of glow. Then, in 2023, the DEFY Skyline Skeleton Night Surfer El Primero kept the momentum going. Now, with the White Surfer, ZENITH has taken its most daring leap yet—flipping the script and lighting up the DEFY design language with a punch of pristine ceramic and ocean-inspired hues.
Not Your Average Beach Watch
The White Surfer is more than just a pretty face on a white strap. At 41mm, it’s forged in ultra-tough white ceramic—lightweight, scratch-resistant, and designed to go the distance whether you're chasing waves or city deadlines. It's also built to swim, with 10 ATM water resistance and a screw-down crown that keeps the elements in check.
But the real showstopper is the dial: an openworked gradient that slides from deep ocean blue to sky blue, echoing the horizon at its most cinematic. The five-pointed star-shaped bridges glow in the dark with Super-LumiNova—an illuminated nod to the original Night Surfer and one of the rare instances ZENITH has given its logo the glow-up treatment.
Inside, It's All Business
Beneath the skeletonised dial and behind the sapphire caseback beats the El Primero 3620 SK—a high-frequency calibre that's as impressive in motion as it is in design. It powers a 1/10th of a second indicator at 6 o’clock and delivers a 55-hour power reserve. The bridges, rotor, and mainplate come in a cool light blue finish, giving the movement a visual fluidity that matches its mechanical precision.
From Niche Collab to Cult Favourite
What started as a collaborative spark has grown into one of the most coveted mini-collections in modern watchmaking. The White Surfer doesn’t just close the Surfer Trilogy—it redefines it. With its clean architectural form, flawless ceramic construction, and that quick-change strap system (yes, you’re getting a matching white rubber strap with a starry-sky motif), this model is already poised for cult status.
Only 100 pieces exist. You’ll find them at Time+Tide, ZENITH boutiques, and select retailers. But don’t blink—like a perfect wave, it won’t wait around.
