Official announcement date: October 6, 2026
ZENITH and Swiss modular-furniture maker USM have created a one-off DEFY Chronograph USM for the 2026 edition of TimeForArt. The watch will be sold through the benefit auction organized by Swiss Institute in partnership with Phillips, alongside a unique USM Haller storage piece made specifically for the project.
A mirror-polished take on the DEFY Chronograph USM
The unique piece builds on the ZENITH × USM collaboration introduced in September 2025. Its defining change is a fully mirror-polished dial that reflects its surroundings. Four colours drawn from USM’s palette—Golden Yellow, Pure Orange, Green and Gentian Blue—appear across the overlapping chronograph counters and hands.
The case remains compact at 37 mm in stainless steel, paired with the model’s fourteen-sided bezel and steel “ladder” bracelet. A miniature USM Haller ball joint sits at the tip of the central chronograph seconds hand, linking the watch directly to the modular furniture system that inspired the collaboration.
Official specifications
- Reference: 03.A780.400-T/01.M3642
- Status: Unique piece
- Case: 37 mm stainless steel
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
- Movement: Automatic El Primero 400 column-wheel chronograph
- Frequency: 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz)
- Power reserve: 55 hours
- Dial: Mirror-polished with four USM colour accents
- Bracelet: Stainless-steel ladder bracelet
The accompanying one-of-a-kind mirrored USM Haller sideboard includes an integrated compartment designed to store up to 24 watches, with a display layer beneath glass and a lockable lower drawer.
Auction date and pricing status
The lot is scheduled to be auctioned at Phillips New York on December 5, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. EST. ZENITH states that 100% of the proceeds, including Phillips’ Buyer’s Premium, will benefit Swiss Institute and support its exhibitions, public programs, education initiatives and community engagement.
This is an auction-only unique piece, not a regular retail release. ZENITH has not announced a retail price, and the final selling price will not be known until the auction closes. Any estimate or prediction about market value or future resale performance would be speculation rather than an official specification.
Leo Gallery's Take
This release matters less as a conventional product launch and more as a focused design collaboration. The 37 mm DEFY case, historic El Primero architecture and recognizable USM colour language make the watch easy to identify without relying on oversized branding. For collectors in Canada, the key distinction is that this is a charity-auction opportunity rather than Canadian retail availability. Anyone considering bidding should verify Phillips’ registration, currency, tax, shipping and import terms directly before the sale.
