Contemporary Artist Felipe Pantone on His Zenith Collaboration

Learn about Argentinian-Spanish artist Felipe Pantone’s latest collaboration with Zenith, the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone.

Given his surname is the same as Pantone, the founders of the Colour Matching System®, one might anticipate the considerable confusion, or even instances of mistaken identification, that Argentinian-Spanish artist Felipe Pantone has encountered. The artist's engagement with colors is evident - we reference his profile here: “He [Pantone] investigates how the displacement of the light spectrum affects color and repetition,” complicating the dilemma further. Henceforth, every reference to Pantone pertains to the artist.

Zenith and Pantone have recently introduced the latest installment of their partnership – the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone. This represents the fifth collaboration between the two innovative thinkers, with the initial project being a bespoke color gradient tarpaulin for Zenith's Le Locle manufacturing façade in 2020. Subsequent collaborations, including the most recent release, emerged from Zenith's DEFY collection of timepieces. The initial DEFY 21 Felipe Pantone was succeeded by the exceptionally successful and unique Zenith x Felipe Pantone DEFY 21 Double Tourbillon Only Watch edition (both in 2021), followed by the DEFY Extreme Felipe Pantone in 2022, which set the stage for this year's limited edition release of 100 pieces.

This year's model replaces Zenith's renowned high-frequency chronograph with a tourbillon, including a tourbillon bridge designed in Pantone's iconic lightning bolt shape. The artist's works are further referenced by the sapphire dial with concentric circle micro-engravings on the front and a mirrored metallic finish on the rear, reminiscent of CD colors. A comparable gradient color application occurs on the warped watch hands and hour markers.

The DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone will be available exclusively at select Zenith shops starting 12 September. We had the chance to converse with Felipe Pantone regarding his recent collaboration with Zenith.

Is there a specific color that most accurately defines your personality?

 I would prefer to be a gradient instead of a singular color. My personality, akin to my work, is perpetually transforming and developing. I am attracted to the spectrum of colors as it symbolizes mobility, transition, and the amalgamation of diverse aspects into a cohesive yet fluid entity. If I were to choose one, it would likely be a vivid blue – a hue that represents both serenity and fervor, akin to the equilibrium I want to achieve in my life and art.

Learn about Argentinian-Spanish artist Felipe Pantone’s latest collaboration with Zenith, the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone.

Hola Felipe, congratulations on your latest project with Zenith! This release marks your fifth project with Zenith, the first on the manufacture facade and four others focused on the watches. How would you describe your relationship with Zenith?

Gracias! My relationship with Zenith has been one of mutual respect and shared vision. From the very beginning, there was a natural synergy between us. Zenith’s dedication to craftsmanship and innovation aligns perfectly with my approach to art. Over the years, our collaborations have evolved from large-scale murals to intricate timepieces, each project deepening our creative partnership. It’s been a journey of exploration, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved when watchmaking meets contemporary art.

Staying on the topic of relationships, have you often been mistakenly affiliated with the Pantone company, given your names and both your relationships with colour?

The similarity in the name is coincidental, though I appreciate the humour in the mix-up. It’s always interesting to see how people make those connections. I used to graffiti and chose the name PANT1 as a kid. Growing up, I learnt about the Pantone company, and recently, I found out that they followed me on Instagram. I guess they’re not mad at me, so I followed back.

After months of labor on the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon Felipe Pantone, how excited are you to witness the watch in person?

 Experiencing the DEFY Skyline Tourbillon firsthand was exciting. After months of conceptualization, design, and refinement, possessing the completed work was profoundly gratifying. The transformation from concept to physical product is consistently intriguing, and this watch, in particular, surpassed my expectations. The interaction with light, the mechanical precision, and the watch's overall presence collectively embody the essence of the collaboration.

This is one of those creations for which pictures do not do justice. It has to be seen in person, where light brings the intricacies of the watch to life. Do you agree with this statement?

Absolutely. The DEFY Skyline Tourbillon is a watch that reveals its true beauty when experienced in person. Photographs can capture the design but can’t convey the play of light on the prismatic dial or how the colours shift as you move your wrist. The depth, textures and subtle details — all of these elements come to life when you see the watch in person. It’s a piece that engages with its environment, which you can only fully appreciate when holding it.

The watch design touchpoints like the Planned Iridescence dial, the gradient colours, and the bolt-shaped tourbillon bridge reflect your work and extend your personality. What message do you want to share with people, or what emotion do you want to evoke when they see the watch?

I want people to feel a sense of energy and curiosity when they see the watch. The design elements, like the iridescent dial and the gradient colours, are meant to evoke a feeling of dynamism and change. The bolt-shaped tourbillon bridge is a nod to the idea of speed and power, elements central to both my art and the concept of time itself. Ultimately, I want the watch to inspire a sense of movement — both visually and emotionally — reminding the wearer that time is constantly in flux and that there’s beauty in that perpetual motion.

Roger Gastman states, “Felipe Pantone embodies a spirit in his work that resembles a convergence of an analogue past and a digitized future, where humans and machines will inevitably experience glitches together within a spectrum of neon gradients, geometric forms, optical patterns, and jagged grids.” Have you contemplated the significant influence that time exerts on you and your artworks following your collaboration with Zenith?

 Collaborating with Zenith has significantly enhanced my understanding of the concept of time and its impact on my work. Time is a pivotal theme in horology and art – one quantifies it, while the other immortalizes it. I continually examine the concept of a collision between the analogue past and a digitized future, with watchmaking positioned at the nexus of these two realms. As I have delved more into the mechanics of watches, I have increasingly contemplated the significance of time in my creative process. It has heightened my awareness of the transience of moments and the significance of encapsulating that energy in my art. Each work I produce encapsulates a certain moment, yet it also contributes to a broader continuity, akin to the ticking of a clock.