The Zenith Defy collection has taken on many iterations since its inception in 1969. You have the urban-inspired Defy Skyline, the colourful and complex Defy 21 Chroma and the aggressively skeletonised Defy Extreme. Then for exploring the deepest depths, there’s the Defy Extreme Diver, a water resistant integrated sports watch with a sporty personality. The model returns as part of the Swiss watchmaker’s Watches & Wonders 2024 showcase alongside a remake of one of the most sought after vintage Zenith diver’s watches, the Defy Revival A3648.
Zenith Defy Extreme Diver
The new Zenith Defy Extreme Diver takes inspiration from the company’s long line of Defy Divers from 1969 onwards. The sporty, angular case is crafted from titanium for saltwater corrosion resistance and lightweight wear, despite its 42.5mm wide dimensions. It has a helium escape valve for a whopping 600 metre water resistance rating (just like the original DEFY A3648 from 1969). It meets the ISO 6425 requirements for professional diver watches, ISO 764 for paramagnetism and ISO 1413 for shock-resistance.
Equipped on top is a unidirectional rotating bezel with grooved edges for easy manipulation. The bezel is engraved and filled with glow in the dark Super-LumiNova for legibility even under dark waves. To match, the four-pointed star dial is set with oversized hands and hour markers with three different shades of X1 grade Super-LumiNova. The dial arrives in black or blue with matching ceramic bezels, FKM rubber and recycled textile straps which can be swapped out from the three-row link titanium bracelet with ease thanks to the interchangeable strap system.
The Zenith Defy Extreme Diver watches are powered by the El Primero 3620-SC automatic high-frequency manufacture calibre with 60 hours power reserve. The movement is put on display through the case back. These novelties are available from all ZENITH boutiques and authorized retailers around the world, retailing for £10,200.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Zenith
- Model: Defy Extreme Diver
- Price: £10,200
- Material: Titanium
- Movement: El Primero 3620-SC automatic high-frequency manufacture calibre
- Power Reserve: 60 hours
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Dial: Blue or black
- Size: 42.5mm
- Water Resistance: 600 metres
- Strap: Titanium metal bracelet, FKM rubber and recycled textile
Zenith Defy Revival A3648
The original Zenith Defy Revival A3648, launched in 1969, remains one of the most sought after models from the Swiss watchmaker and has been a source of inspiration for creating every Defy diver watch since. It was not only amongst the earliest Defy wristwatches, but one of the first Defy divers, seamlessly merging both form and functionality. And now, for the first time ever, Zenith have resurrected the watch almost exactly with the launch of the new Defy Revival A3648.
Like the original, the new Zenith Defy Revival A3648 features an octagonal stainless steel case measuring to 37mm wide. The bezel is equally angular with fourteen sides and a bright orange insert with black printing for the 60 minute scale. It’s here where one of the small, but subtle improvements have been made. The original A3648 model used Plexiglass for the bezel insert, but for improved scratch resistance, sapphire crystal is used instead.
In similar fashion, sapphire crystal glass is used on the front and back of the watch to protect both the movement and the black matte dial. The dial is an almost exact replica of the original with the same bright orange hands and minutes track, large arrow-shaped minutes hand and square lollipop seconds. The markers and hands are filled with green-glowing Super-LumiNova.
Like before, the Zenith Defy Revival A3648 watch is rated with a water resistance of 600 metres, a considerable feat then and still now – especially with its exhibition case back. The rating is assisted by the screw down crown at 4 o’clock and rated on the back as 1,969ft – both 600 metres in feet but also the year the Defy collection launched. Through the back, you can view the Elite 670 automatic manufacture movement, with a power reserve of 50 hours.
The Zenith Defy Revival A3648 is completed by a five-link stainless steel bracelet modelled after the same strap created by Gay Frères, the company that engineered the bracelet for the 1969 reference. It comes with a deployment buckle and a diver’s extension. The DEFY Revival A3648 is available from all ZENITH physical and online boutiques as well as authorized retailers around the world. It retails for £6,900.
Technical Specifications:
- Brand: Zenith
- Model: Defy Revival A3648
- Price: £10,900
- Material: Stainless steel
- Movement: Elite 670 automatic manufacture movement
- Power Reserve: 50 hours
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Dial: Black with orange hands and minutes track
- Size: 37mm
- Water Resistance: 600 metres
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
