The perfect way to complement the Swiss watchmaker’s colourful Defy Classic timepieces this summer.

If you thought summer was the signal to start turning up the colour dial in the clothing department, then you’d be right. But it needn’t end there. This season, why stop at neon T-shirts, loud blazers and jazzy socks when you can bring your wrist to life with a shock of colour, too? If you were tempted to go bold by investing in a new watch, it has never been easier to do so. Colourful timepieces are a bit of a horological trend at the moment as an increasingly appealing proposition for men who – as opposed to stainless steel and gold pieces – want something sporty and more fun to adorn their wrists. After all, a classic timepiece is always nice to have in your collection, but it won’t start a conversation or catch the eye quite like something bright, bold and contemporary.

Clearly, this is what that Swiss watch brand Zenith had in mind with the latest iteration of its Defy range: the Classic. First presented at Baselworld last year, the Classic range offers striking ceramic and rubber watches in blue, black and white colourways, and, handily, they are available on MR PORTER right this minute.

Always at the forefront of watch design, Zenith has, however, not always been known for making such a splash. Founded in 1865 in Le Locle, this is a Swiss watchmaker with more than 150 years’ history and one we might more readily associate with intricate, sophisticated, timeless pieces. Indeed, its Academy Christophe Colomb Équation du Temps won the prize for Best Complicated Watch at the Geneva watchmaking awards in 2011. But Zenith is no stranger to innovation. For example, its famous El Primero model – the first integrated automatic chronograph in history – revolutionised the luxury watch industry back in 1969.

Today’s colourful Defy Classic feels like a very contemporary innovation in day-to-day wristwear – a timepiece that imbues the wearer with a laid-back, sporty feel. But how exactly to wear it? Or, more specifically, what to wear it with? Time for some tips.

The Chronomaster watches that Zenith has become famous for are sophisticated timepieces made for formalwear and smart occasions. The Defy range, and specifically the Classic model, is a little more casual yet still stylish. And nothing could feel more modern than an all-black watch. Sleek and quietly sophisticated, this watch means business – but perhaps not when you need to make a statement in the boardroom, or adhere to a strict dress code. This is something more robust for weekend or day-to-day wear. And your outfit should match. Keep things dark and laid-back with a plum suede jacket, perhaps, and a relaxed black sweater with a pair of suit trousers to keep you looking sharp. And, much like your watch, these Derby shoes – made by MR PORTER’s in-house brand, Mr P. – are dark, sturdy and reliable.

The new Classic models are not all about looks, mind. A quick peek under the bonnet shows that the exacting specifications and attention to detail that the brand has honed for more than a century are present and correct. Beneath this watch’s white ceramic exterior is a Swiss-made Elite 670 SK automatic movement (five years in the making, no less), and you’re not going to be late for any appointments soon, either. The Defy Classic has a 50-hour power reserve and given you’ll be spending so much time wearing this thing, why not match up and go (mostly) all white? After all, it’s a look that’s having a bit of a moment, too. We suggest this cashmere sweater from SAINT LAURENT and a pair of slim-fitting jeans by TOM FORD. But to make sure you don’t look like a ghost, break it up with some colourful suede sneakers.

We wrote in detail earlier this year about the trend for blue-faced watches, which were extremely prevalent at Baselworld 2019. So, if you’re wearing an entirely blue watch, well, you’re on to a very good thing. The Defy Classic is one of the most futuristic, and emphatic, ways to wear a blue watch this summer. It’s also, to our eye, one of the most sophisticated-looking shade of blue in a watch so it deserves some smart clothes to match. Take this linen suit by Etro, for example – it’s the perfect lightweight, warm-weather accompaniment on a summer’s day. Add a contrasting shade of blue with a silk pocket square or linen shirt, and you’re very much good to go.