ZENITH unveils DEFY Skyline Sapphire at newly opened Cyprus boutique (pics)

09:36 - 21 September 2023

Companies Reporter

The inauguration of ZENITH’s first boutique in Cyprus with local retail partner Vassos Eliades, also included the presentation of the dazzlingly blue DEFY Skyline Sapphire, its latest boutique-exclusive edition.

As part of ZENITH’s expanding presence to serve its customers around the globe more personally and immerse them in its unique world, ZENITH is delighted to announce its first boutique in Southern Europe, on the island nation of Cyprus. The 17 September ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by Friend of the Brand DJ Carl Cox, who put on a special performance for guests in attendance. The opening of the new Cyprus boutique was the perfect occasion to present the latest boutique-exclusive edition, the DEFY Skyline Sapphire.

Mr. Grant Johnson, Mr. Evagoras Charalambous, DJ Carl Cox & Mr. Paolo Cappiello

Grant Johnson, Evagoras Charalambous, DJ Carl Cox & Paolo Cappiello

A modern successor to the very first ZENITH DEFY wristwatch model from 1969, the DEFY Skyline seamlessly merges the past and present with bold architectural lines and unwavering robustness that have become hallmarks of the line. While deep blue tones inspired by the starry night sky have become a signature of many ZENITH Boutique Editions, the DEFY Skyline Sapphire doubles down with a brilliant gem-setting. The steel dodecagonal bezel is set with 45 baguette-cut blue sapphires, further embellishing the metallic blue dial with a four-pointed star geometric pattern. It comes on an integrated steel bracelet, with a blue patterned rubber strap also provided to make the most of the case’s ingenious quick strap-change mechanism that requires no tools.

The DEFY Skyline Sapphire in 41mm is powered by the El Primero 3620 automatic high-frequency calibre, featuring a 1/10th of a second indicator that’s driven directly from the 5Hz escapement. It features a power reserve of approximately 60 hours and is endowed with a stop-second mechanism for precise time-setting.

The new ZENITH boutique has been opened with the brand’s longstanding Cypriot retailer partner Vassos Eliades. The Eliades family and Evagoras Charalambous (General Manager Vassos Eliades Accessories Ltd) have been instrumental in fostering the watch scene in Cyprus. They have supported ZENITH for nearly twenty years, catering to both a local community of enthusiasts as well as tourists in the Limassol region.

The ZENITH Boutique is conveniently situated in the main hall of the City of Dreams Mediterranean, the European Union’s first integrated resort and casino. With 500 rooms and almost 2 million visitors expected in 2024, City of Dreams is a one-of-a-kind destination combining exceptional services and experiences. At the centre of the resort’s luxury district, the ZENITH boutique takes on a vertical design, with a blue sky streaked on the ceiling mirrored by the blue carpet leading the way from the entrance to the mural visual of the Pilot collection.

Like all ZENITH boutiques, it features a “Story Bar” that allows visitors to sit back, relax, and enjoy a refreshment while diving deeper into the ZENITH universe. When interacting with any of the objects behind the Story Bar, videos about the significance of what these objects represent as well as the inspirational stories of individuals from ZENITH’s past and present begin to play on the screen.

On taking ZENITH and Eliades partnership to the next phase, Vassos Eliades Accessories’ General Manager Evagoras Charalambous shared, "As we open the doors to our new ZENITH boutique in this spectacular destination, we are proud to include Cyprus in the spectrum of ZENITH Boutiques worldwide. This milestone represents our unwavering commitment to providing our discerning clientele with the zenith of timepieces. We invite you to experience the epitome of luxury in the heart of Limassol, where time takes on a new dimension."

Vassos K. Eliades, Grant Johnson, DJ Carl Cox & Paolo Cappiello

To which ZENITH CEO Julien Tornare added, “This is a big step for ZENITH and our continued partnership with Vassos Eliades. We’re so thrilled to be opening our first boutique in southern Europe with such a great partner. We look forward to welcoming passionate ZENITH fans and newcomers in our own dedicated space. With the Mediterranean Sea as the backdrop, we couldn’t have picked a better occasion to unveil the DEFY Skyline Sapphire, with its majestic blue tones.”

The DEFY Skyline Sapphire is available exclusively from ZENITH physical and online boutiques around the world.