An Affordable Alternative to the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph

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Since the launch of the Zenith Defy Skyline collection in 2021, the world has been patiently waiting for a chronograph version of this integrated sports watch. The Swiss watchmaker has a long history in the field of chronographs, and Zenith surprised everyone by waiting so long. But alas, this year’s “Watches & Wonders” event finally ushered in the release of the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph, and what a striking new addition it is.

With a 42mm wide stainless steel octagonal profile and an in-house El Primero 3600 high-frequency automatic movement, these watches are rightfully one of the most talked-about watches at W&W 2024. They are available in three dial finishes, metallic black, blue or silver, each embellished with the iconic four-pointed star engraving. They are beautifully presented with a simple chronograph layout, and the in-house movement provides a precision that is difficult to surpass.

But high levels of execution often come with high prices, so this is not a fake watches for sale that everyone can easily afford. So what are some affordable alternatives to the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph? Here are our picks…

Tissot PRX Chronograph Powermatic 80
The Tissot PRX Chronograph is an integrated sports watch with a similar tonneau-shaped case and three-eye dial to the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph. Retailing for less than one-seventh the price, the PRX features a 40mm-wide stainless steel case, a sleek polished bezel and Swatch Group’s popular Powermatic 80 movement, which has an 80-hour power reserve and anti-magnetic properties. The dial is available in silver or blue vertical brushed finishes, or there’s also a very cool green dial variant with a unique waffle-like texture.

Q Timex Falcon Eye Chronograph
If we’re talking about affordable alternatives, then American watchmaker Timex is likely to make an appearance. The brand has a large selection of affordable watches, and for those who like an integrated chronograph, we recommend the Q Timex Falcon Eye Chronograph.

Longines Conquest Chronograph
If it’s a Swiss-made chronograph you’re after, the Longines Conquest Chronograph collection might be your best bet. While lacking some of the integrated construction of the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph, it’s still a handsome sports discount replica watches with a 42mm-wide stainless steel case, ceramic tachymeter bezel, sapphire crystal, and 100m water resistance. Its dial is sleek and simple, with a three-hour layout and a subtle black border around the tilted hour markers. The Longines Conquest Chronograph also features the Calibre L895, which has a silicon balance spring and a 59-hour power reserve.

Herbelin Cap Camarat Chronograph
Another affordable Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph alternative comes from French watchmaker Herbelin. With a screw-decorated bezel reminiscent of the AP Royal Oak, a one-piece 42mm-wide profile, and a textured dial reminiscent of elements of the Defy Skyline, this watch looks and feels more expensive than its price tag would suggest. The horizontally striped dial features two snailed and recessed counters, as well as solid baton hands and markers with luminous material. Inside is a Sellita automatic movement that offers a 56-hour power reserve.

Baume et Mercier Riviera Chronograph
Our last affordable alternative to the Zenith Defy Skyline Chronograph is the Baume et Mercier Riviera. This is a great integrated sports replica men watches that shares many design elements with the Zenith. It features a 1970s-style dodecagonal stainless steel case that is 43mm wide, a screwed bezel, and an engraved wave pattern on the dial inspired by the French coastline of the same name. The display is a bit busy, but it does offer a ton of specs, including time, chronograph, day, and date complications. The watch is powered by a Valjoux 7750 automatic chronograph movement with a 48-hour power reserve.

A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar watch in white gold with rose gold dial

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The new A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar, with its 18K white gold case and gorgeous pink gold dial (salmon colour), combines three of the most complex watchmaking complications in a classic design. The equally rare and ambitious split-seconds chronograph or combination of a split-seconds chronograph and a perpetual calendar is now presented with a stunning rose gold dial.

Launched for the first time in 2013, the Lange 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar marked a milestone in the brand’s renaissance history, after at least seven chronograph movements had been made in the Saxon factory. Equipped with a specially developed movement, it incorporates three of the most complex complications while maintaining the classic, elegant design of the 1815 high quality copy watches collection.

The dial of the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar in white and rose gold sets the standard for elapsed time measurements and calendar cycle displays. In addition to the traditional functions of a chronograph, this complication is also capable of measuring intermediate and comparative times, as well as determining the minimum and maximum values within a minute. Since the balance wheel of the in-house movement L101.1 oscillates six times per second, it is possible to record stopped times with an accuracy of one-sixth of a second. High-precision readings are ensured thanks to the extra graduations on the peripheral minute scale.

The precisely arranged processes within the movement can be observed through the sapphire crystal case back. A classic two-column-wheel transmission is used to control the measurement of stop times and intermediate times. As is typical of Lange, complex technology is combined with a high degree of craftsmanship. All moving parts have a straight-grained upper surface and polished perimeter chamfers. Only an experienced polisher is capable of polishing bevels to sharp and flat perfection.

The Lange L101.1 movement consists of 631 independent parts. The perpetual calendar device alone requires 211 parts, and the split-second timing device requires 206 parts. The movement offers a 42-hour power reserve. luxury copy Watches

The design of the high-precision moon phase display also takes long-term development into consideration. It so accurately simulates the duration of Earth satellites’ conjunction orbits that it takes 122.6 years to correct the display for one day. While the split-seconds chronograph is capable of measuring different time intervals to a fraction of a second, the extraordinary technical feat of the perpetual calendar lies in its ‘long-term memory’. As its name suggests, this complex and prescient mechanism ensures the correct display of the date, day of the week and month – every day for decades, even taking leap years into account. The calendar display can only be corrected by one day, but no later than March 1, 2100; according to the rules of the Gregorian calendar, leap years are skipped.

What makes the A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar unique is not only the technical details, but also the orderly arrangement of its displays. Following the Datograph Perpetual Tourbillon in 2019 and the Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar in 2021, the new 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar is Lange’s third timepiece with an 18K rose gold dial, a warm golden tone that contrasts sharply with the elegant and cool white gold dial Shell diameter 41.9 mm, thickness 14.7 mm.

The dial adopts the traditional railway track minute scale, Arabic numerals and the harmonious arrangement of four small dials, reflecting the essence of the watch family named after the year of Ferdinand Adolph Lange’s birth. The multiple displays of the perpetual calendar and split-seconds chronograph echo the classic aesthetics of early Lange pocket watches. Two pairs of combined calendar indicators are arranged at 3 o’clock and 9 o’clock respectively. The small dial on the left shows the date and day of the week, and the small dial on the right shows the month and leap year. The moon phase display shares a subdial with the small seconds at 6 o’clock in expressive colour. Minute counter and power reserve indicator at 12 o’clock. A shorter gold hand on the inner ring shows when new power needs to be supplied to the movement via the winding crown. Longer hands in blued steel provide information about the stopped minutes.

A. Lange & Söhne 1815 Rattrapante Perpetual Calendar white gold watch with rose gold dial. fake luxury watches

Panerai launches Luminor BiTempo PAM01360 and PAM01361

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Minimalist dual time zone.

Traditionally a vintage-inspired “Marina Militare” diver’s watch, Panerai has recently introduced complications with minimalist, modern execution, such as the recent Luminor Perpetual Calendar.

Perhaps more practical – certainly more affordable – is the new Luminor BiTempo PAM 1360 and PAM 1361 of similar aesthetics – a GMT watch with a striking pale blue tint on a blue or black dial.

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Given its large diameter and clean dial, the Luminor can accommodate complications well, while still maintaining its typical minimalist style – if the additions are properly integrated. Panerai has done this with BiTempo, which manages to incorporate the date, second time zone and power reserve indicator without getting in the way of the recognizable Panerai aesthetic. In fact, BiTempo can deliver a time-only Luminor across the room.

That said, the second time zone isn’t a new complication to the brand – the movement is an existing one – so the novelty lies mostly in changing dial details like the enlarged date display and blue accents . While I appreciate that the light blue indicator is clear and easy to read, I find the color too muted for an understated military-inspired look.

Dual time zone
The BiTempo has a 44mm Luminor 1950 case and the iconic crown guard. The “sandwich” dial features the iconic Luminor layout with oversized Arabic numerals in the quarter, but has additional date displays, GMT and power reserve displays. Panerai copy

Thanks to the calibration, the dual time zone display is as clear as possible. P9012. The movement has a 12-hour GMT hand for the second time zone instead of the usual 24-hour hand, so there is no need for an additional 24-hour scale. And the GMT hand can be hidden under the local time hand when not in use, further enhancing the minimalism of the dial.

That said, the 12-hour clock in the second time zone means that day and night cannot be discerned from the dial, so the wearer must know this.

While the dial design is simple, the execution is slightly more complex than Panerai’s entry-level models. It has a two-piece “sandwich” construction that displays the hour markers through small holes in the dial. replica watches review

Interestingly, the dial design is slightly different from the traditional Panerai dials with printed minute scales, something that the Panerai dial tradition does not have.

Panerai has several two time zone movements in its stables, the P.9012 in BiTempo is one of the more premium movements. In addition to this, the P.9012 is powered by twin barrels that provide a three-day power reserve.

In addition to its obvious functions, the P.9012 also features a reset to zero, a countdown – when the crown is pulled to set the time, the second hand stops and immediately flies back to the 12 o’clock position, a rare usefulness in watches Function. this price range.

The movement is visible through the back of the display and has a typical Panerai aesthetic, an almost monochromatic, industrial finish with brushed brushed bridges.

Panerai Luminor BiTempo
Ref. PAM01360 (Black)
refer to. PAM01361 (blue)

Diameter: 44mm
Height: none
Material: Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 300 m

Movement: P.9012
Functions: hours, minutes, countdown to zero, GMT, power reserve indication winding
: Automatic winding
Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: three days

Strap: Alligator leather pin buckle