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- Zenith and USM have teamed up for the second time to create a unique Defy Chronograph USM watch, made exclusively for the TimeForArt benefit auction.
- The watch swaps the brands’ original four-piece collaboration’s colourful dials for a fully mirror-polished one, with all four USM signature colours still present.
- A one-of-a-kind mirrored USM Haller sideboard that holds up to 24 watches accompanies the watch.
- The pairing goes under the hammer at Phillips New York on 5 December 2026, with 100 per cent of proceeds going to the Swiss Institute, the independent, non-profit institution dedicated to promoting forward-thinking and experimental art.
Few brand partnerships make as much sense to me as the one between the watchmaker Zenith and the modular furniture brand USM. And yet fewer still manage to follow their debut effort with a sequel as compelling as the Zenith Defy Chronograph USM – TimeForArt Unique Piece.
Following their first collaboration in September 2025, which consisted of four bright-dialled references, the watch manufacturer and furniture maker (both Swiss) have reunited for a one-off Defy Chronograph USM timepiece. Made for a TimeForArt auction to be held on December 5, 2026 (this will benefit the Swiss Institute, the independent non-profit institution dedicated to forward-thinking and experimental art), the piece takes the design of the original watches and makes one distinct change.
Where the previous collection sported eye-catchingly colourful dials in four shades, we instead have a mirror-polished affair that still nods to USM’s signature colour palette. This is achieved by deploying USM Golden Yellow, USM Pure Orange, USM Green, and USM Gentian Blue within the detailing of the mirrored dial and its sub-dials. Oh, and the piece also comes with its own furniture. You can’t say that for many watches.
Zenith Defy Chronograph USM – TimeForArt Unique Piece Key Specs:
- Reference: 03.A780.400-T/01.M3642
- Case: Stainless steel
- Diameter: 37 mm
- Dial: Mirror-polished, with USM Golden Yellow, USM Pure Orange, USM Green and USM Gentian Blue details
- Bracelet: Stainless steel “ladder” bracelet
- Movement: El Primero 400 automatic column-wheel chronograph
- Frequency: 36,000 VpH (5 Hz)
- Power reserve: 55 hours
- Water resistance: 100 metres
- Edition: Limited to one piece
Historical Link
The USM and Zenith pairing isn’t as random as it might first appear, as the brands share somewhat common elements within their origin stories. USM’s Haller modular system was patented in 1965. Four years later, Zenith launched both the original Defy and the El Primero movement. So, we have two Swiss companies, operating in very different disciplines, but simultaneously pursuing smart, modular, forward-thinking design in their own way.
This common ground led to the 2025 collaboration, which reimagined the Defy’s angular architecture through the prism of USM’s bold colour palette. For this TimeForArt effort, the partnership has pushed that idea even further.
Mirror Dial
As mentioned above, the unquestionable hero of the watch is its mirror-polished dial. Zenith claims this means it “constantly changes with its environment. Light, architecture and movement become part of its appearance, making a watch that is never seen in quite the same way twice.” It’s a nice thought, although realistically, you’ll be seeing your own mug reflected back at you for the most part.
Within the dial, there are three overlapping azuré chronograph counters, each of which gets a splash of the aforementioned shades of yellow, green, and orange, all of which are surrounded by a minute track in the corresponding blue. This also appears on the watch’s chronograph hand, which features a miniature USM Haller ball joint as a finishing touch.
The rest of the Defy Chronograph USM’s identity remains in place, from its 37-mm stainless-steel case and “ladder” bracelet to the rhodium-plated hour and minute hands coated in SuperLuminova SLN C1.
Movement
Inside, you’ll find the El Primero 400, Zenith’s automatic high-frequency column-wheel chronograph calibre. It beats at 36,000 vibrations per hour and is capable of holding a 55-hour power reserve. The movement’s oscillating weight can be viewed through the display cashback, which is certainly worth a look as it carries a Côtes de Genève motif and the combined Zenith and USM logo.
Functions naturally include hours, minutes and that chronograph hand in the centre, small seconds at nine o’clock, a 12-hour counter at six o’clock, a 30-minute counter at three o’clock, and a date window at 4:30.
Matching Sideboard
If you’ve ever felt concern that your timepiece doesn’t fully complement your furniture (who among us hasn’t?), this watch arrives accompanied by a one-of-a-kind mirrored Haller sideboard designed by USM to hold up to 24 watches. Through the glass top, the first layer of the collection stays on display, while a lockable compartment below opens to reveal a drawer with a second layer.
It’s a practical piece of design for the collector who has outgrown their watch box, and a fun novelty of a different sort for the watch world. It’s also unquestionably one of the most elegant answers one could muster for the question of where to put your watches.
Price and Availability
The Defy Chronograph USM – TimeForArt Unique Piece was created for the third edition of TimeForArt, the benefit watch auction organised by the Swiss Institute in partnership with Phillips. This year’s edition brings together 25 participating watch brands, each contributing a unique timepiece in support of contemporary art.
The watch and its sideboard will be auctioned at Phillips New York on 5 December 2026 at 3:00 PM EST, with all proceeds, including Phillips’ Buyer’s Premium, going to the Swiss Institute to support exhibitions, public programs, education initiatives, and community engagement. The now sold-out previous incarnations retailed for AUD$18,400, but you can expect this one to go for far more.
If you have the budget and you’re in the market for a matching watch-and-sideboard combo, this is a singular opportunity. Plus, you’ll be supporting a good cause while you’re at it.
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