Check Out the Second Generation ‘Permanent’ Defy Revival

More than 120 years ago, Zenith introduced DEFI to tell the world that this collection meant business; it comprised precise pocket watches. This was later transformed into DEFY, a new collection of wristwatches that would ‘defy’ all odds to make its mark. 

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In 1969, DEFY was introduced as a stainless steel sports watch with an octagonal case and a tetradecagonal (14-sided) bezel. Now, with its Defy Revival versions (Ref.03.A3642.670/3691.M3642 and Ref.03.A3642.670/3690.M3642), the luxury watchmaker has resurrected the timepiece. It truly honours the DEFY legacy with a deep red ‘vignette’ dial and a turquoise gradient dial that turns darker towards the edges.

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Revealed in 1969, Zenith’s El Primero movement has been termed one of the legendary movements in the world of watches. Launched as one of the movements for the title for the world’s first automatic chronograph, the movement measured just 6.5 mm in height and a little over 2.9 mm in diameter. 

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In 2019, Zenith put forth the El Primero A384 Revival, the 50th anniversary edition (Ref.03.A384.400/21.C815). This 37 mm stainless steel watch had a 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, a 30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, a small seconds subdial at 9 o’clock and a date window at 4:30.  The watch had a gradient grey dial that went dark towards the edges, a technique that was well-known way back in the 1960s. At this year’s LVMH Watch Week, Zenith did the unthinkable by releasing the first DEFY Revival that joins the ‘Permanent’ collection. In order to continue bringing back some of its most emblematically colourful DEFY references, Zenith released DEFY Revival A3690, limited to just 250 pieces. 

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The key features of the watches, based on the 1969 model, are their red and turquoise gradient dials that darken on the edges. Each of the new versions, Ref.A3690 and Ref.A3691, has a 14-sided bezel and a 37 mm stainless steel octagonal case, just like its predecessor. These Revival versions also get unusual applied square hour markers, featuring horizontal grooves and date windows at 4:30. What’s more, the watches comprise rhodium-plated, faceted and coated, sword-shaped hour, minute and second hands with SuperLuminova.

Powering both the newly launched timepieces is Zenith’s in-house ELITE 670 automatic movement with approximately 50 hours of power reserve. When the wearer turns the watch, he or she can check out the see-through sapphire caseback with the ‘Star’-shaped peripheral rotor, complete with satin finishings on Ref.A3691. Ref.A3691 has a traditional stainless steel oscillating weight with the signature ‘Star’ engraving as well as the engraving of the individual watch number, ‘Out of 250’. The watches offer a water resistance of 300 metres. 

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As part of the brand’s permanent collection, the DEFY Revival A3691 will be available for purchase at Zenith boutiques and authorised retailers while the DEFY Revival A3690 will only be available at Zenith boutiques. 

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