Watches And Wonders 2024: Zenith Re-Introduces Dive Watches In Its Line-Up With The Defy Extreme Diver And Defy Revival A3648

The Zenith Defy series is a rugged realization of purpose-built timepieces. Inspired with a marine exploration essence, the Defy Extreme Diver, like its outdoor-themed peers, is a utilitarian timepiece aimed at thoroughbred audiences. At the Watches and Wonders 2024, Zenith announces the revival of its Defy Extreme Diver alongside a vintage tribute model, the Defy Revival A3648. Both iterations offer an impressive 600 meters of water resistance worthy of exploring the deepest oceanic realms. The timepieces feature funky orange accents instantly reviving the 70s vibes.

Zenith Defy Extreme Diver

Zenith’s Defy Diver has been an inceptive iteration in the line-up with examples dating back to 1969. At the Watches and Wonders 2024, we get a modernized incarnation of a classic dive watch with the release of the Defy Extreme Diver. The highly intricate dodecagonal case profile marries depth-defying diving competence with a robust titanium construction. It gets a 42.5 mm angular case equipped with a helium escape value for saturation diving. For safe measurements of dive-timing, the watch gets a unidirectional rotating bezel with deep grooves.

The timepiece conceived for professional diving gets generous luminescent coating across its bezel, dial markers as well as hands. The case with its oversized crown features titanium crown-guards. Zenith offers a selection of black and blue dial variants with matching ceramic bezels. The dials are engraved in a star-shaped geometric pattern for visual depth. A date window revealing a dial color-matching disc appears at 3 o’clock.

Powering the timepiece is Zenith's high-frequency El Primero in-house 3620-SC automatic movement with 60 hours of power reserve. It is visible through a sapphire case back and features a silicon escapement for superior antimagnetic properties. A triple-link titanium bracelet offers a rugged pairing for its tough case and the watch comes with additional optional straps made of dial-color matching FKM rubber or a single-piece recycled strap.

Zenith Defy Revival A3648

Zenith remasters a cult-classic original from 1969, the reference A3648 with release of the Defy Revival A3648 at Watches and Wonders 2024. Distinctive to the contemporary iteration discussed above, the tribute version gets a stainless steel angular case with a matching bracelet construction realized in a smaller true-to-the-era 37 mm diameter. This revival marks a first-ever tribute release for any Zenith diver’s watch.

The watch features a unidirectional rotating bezel with a sapphire crystal insert as a durable nod to the early era’s Plexiglass inserts. It features the same black-on-orange markings as on the original model and gives the timepiece a signature 70s funky look. Its matte black dial gets a bright orange minutes track and white luminescent material coated hands that emit an enduring green glow.

As an aesthetic and utilitarian nod to the original, the case features a 4 o’clock crown positioning and an impressive 600 meters of water resistance. For timekeeping duties, the watch relies on the Zenith Elite 670 automatic in-house caliber packing in 50 hours of power reserve. It can be viewed through a sapphire crystal on the case back. The watch is paired with a steel five-link bracelet with a deployant buckle featuring a wetsuit friendly dive-extension.

A Long-Due Revival of Dive Watches for Zenith

At the Watches and Wonders 2024, Zenith introduces a duo of diver’s watches in its line-up by offering a contemporary and a vintage-inspired iteration. Both variants feature an impressive parallel of 600 meters depth-rating and pay a delectable homage to the original Zenith diver from 1969 with bright orange accents. Designed to endure extreme environments of deep waters, the timepieces garner a superlative focus on technical performance and legibility.