Since its introduction in 1969, the ZENITH DEFY wristwatch line has impressed with its unshakable reliability and robustness. Over the years, the DEFY has been continually developed with special functions and designs. From the highest peaks to the most inaccessible terrain, ZENITH is taking the collection back to the deepest depths with the DEFY Extreme Diver and is re-issuing one of the most sought-after ZENITH vintage diving watches with the DEFY Revival A3648.
With a history dating back to 1969, the DEFY Diver is one of the first DEFY wristwatches. ZENITH maintained the collection’s distinctive design with the signature angular case and dodecagonal bezel, and incorporated all the necessary elements for a diving watch, including a rotating bezel and bright color accents for instant readability underwater. With the same aspiration to combine form and function for a specific purpose, ZENITH now presents a modern diving watch inspired by both historical DEFY diving watches and the modern DEFY line, particularly the DEFY Extreme. The result is a feature-rich diver’s watch that is obviously and thoroughly a ZENITH DEFY. It is designed to withstand the extreme conditions in the most adverse environments where ice, fog and deep, dark waters require increased performance and readability.
DEFY Extreme Diver
Inspired by a long product line of DEFY diving watches, first launched in 1969, the DEFY Extreme Diver is characterized by its modern appeal. Her unique and complex design underlines her performance at depth, as she was developed for extreme conditions where ice, water and fog pose a major challenge. Its angular 42.5 mm case is made of titanium, a metal that not only has an impressive weight-to-strength ratio, but is also particularly resistant to corrosion in contact with salt water. The housing has a helium valve for saturation diving. Above the fixed dodecagonal bezel is the unidirectional rotating ceramic bezel, which has grooves on the edges for optimal grip for adjustment, even with gloves. The bezel is engraved and features Super-LumiNova and bright colors to ensure optimal readability even underwater in adverse lighting conditions.
The oversized screw-down crown has a titanium crown protector on each side. Like the historic DEFY A3648 from 1969, the DEFY Extreme Diver is water resistant to 600 meters (60 ATM) or 1,969 feet – a symbolic number for the DEFY diving watch. It meets the requirements of ISO 6245 for professional diving watches, which includes ISO 764 regarding paramagnetism and ISO 1413 for shock resistance, making it a real diving watch that can withstand particularly extreme conditions.
The dial with its geometric pattern of engraved four-pointed stars is a hallmark of the modern DEFY line. The metal dials, available in black and blue, with matching ceramic bezels, have a sunray finish, the rays of which emanate from the applied ZENITH star at 12 o’clock. The date display at 3 o’clock is color coordinated with the dial.
Readability is one of the key features of the DEFY Extreme Diver. The oversized hands and applied hour markers on the dial feature three different Super-LumiNova grade “X1” pigments with light emissions in blue, green and orange. They ensure that the functions (hours, minutes, seconds) can be easily distinguished from one another. The bright orange accents reference the historic DEFY diving watches.
The DEFY Extreme Diver is powered by the automatic El Primero 3620-SC high-frequency in-house caliber with a 60-hour power reserve, which is visible through the sapphire crystal back – an unusual feature in a diving watch. This version of the El Primero caliber features a paramagnetic escapement whose main components are made of non-metallic silicon.
The DEFY Extreme Diver is completed by a three-link titanium bracelet and two other included bracelets. The first additional strap is made of FKM rubber and is color-matched to the dial color with a Cordura effect structure that has openings on the side that allow water to pass through. In line with ZENITH’s HORIZ-ON initiative to reduce the brand’s environmental impact and promote sustainable production, the DEFY Extreme Diver comes with an extra-long strap made from recycled fishing nets that can be worn over a wetsuit. It has special end pieces so that the one-piece band can be passed through and under the housing, ensuring a secure fit.
DEFY Revival A3648
One of the biggest sources of inspiration when developing the DEFY Extreme Diver was the DEFY reference A3648. Originally launched in 1969, it was an alternative version of ZENITH’s avant-garde and robust steel wristwatch that served a specific purpose. The A3648 was not only one of the first DEFY wristwatch models, but also one of the first DEFY diving watches. Even by today’s standards, the A3648 offered incredible performance in a watch that effortlessly blended style and substance.
For some time now, ZENITH has been reissuing the most emblematic models of the past and is now introducing the DEFY Revival A3648 – the very first diving watch in the ZENITH Revival program. As a striking member of the original DEFY line, the DEFY Revival A3648 has a particularly angular stainless steel case with a diameter of 37 mm. The 14-sided stainless steel bezel, which was already part of the DEFY models of the time, is also part of this model, but above the rotating round bezel.
This stainless steel unidirectional rotating bezel features an insert made of sapphire crystal rather than Plexiglas like the historical models. It has the same black markings on a bright orange background – one of the most famous features of the historic A3648. The color combination of black and orange extends to the dial, whose matt black surface contrasts with the orange of the hands and minute divisions. Both the hour indices and the hands are filled with white Super-LumiNova, which glows in a bright green for a long time.
In addition to a screw-down crown at 4 o’clock and a sapphire crystal back, the DEFY Revival A3648 offers the same water resistance up to 600 meters (60 ATM). This achievement was already achieved in 1969 and is still an impressive value for such a compact diving watch with a sapphire crystal back. This number is symbolic for ZENITH as 600 meters equals 1,969 feet – the year the DEFY line of watches was launched, which includes the A3648. The case back reveals the automatic Elite 670 manufacture movement, which offers a power reserve of 50 hours.
And like the original, the DEFY Revival A3648 is equipped with a five-link stainless steel bracelet with folding clasp, modeled on the bracelet made for the historic model in 1969 by the famous Gay Frères company. The folding clasp has an extension so that the watch can be worn over the diving suit without having to add or remove bracelet links.
