Introducing: Zenith Goes Dark With The Defy Extreme Diver Shadow And Defy Revival Diver Shadow
What We Know
One of the biggest hits of Watches and Wonders 2024 was the one/two punch of some new Zenith divers. One diver – the Defy Extreme Diver – had a distinctly modern flair with modern measurements to boot. The other – the Defy Revival Diver – played off the vintage ref. A3648 aesthetic and fourteen-sided bezel. Today, Zenith launches another pair featuring much the same specs but with a new aesthetic, with the new Shadow series of Defy Divers with microblasted titanium cases and green-yellow accents.
The new Defy Extreme Diver features a 42.5mm by 15mm case with a 47.4mm lug-to-lug. That case houses an automatic El Primero three-hand movement with date at 3 o’clock, running at 36,000 VpH with 60 hours of power reserve, all protected by a screw-down crown, 600m of water resistance and a helium release valve.
The hands are rhodium plated as are the indices; and the indices and hour hand have green-emission SuperLuminova SLN C1 while the minute hand and bezel pip have blue-emission lume, and the bezel markers glow yellow. The watch comes with three strap options: black “cordura effect” rubber with folding clasp, microblasted titanium bracelet with folding clasp, and a black and yellow fabric strap with pin buckle. The price is $12,300.
The Defy Revival Diver Shadow is made even more punchy with color. The watch still has 600m of water resistance and measures 15mm thick, but in a 37mm octagonal case with a shorter 44mm lug-to-lug. The 14-sided unidirectional rotating bezel has a yellow-tinted sapphire insert. The watch is powered by the automatic Elite 670 movement with date positioned at 4:30 on the dial, while the dial itself features yellow painting and printed indices and SuperLuminova SLN C1, with yellow-coated hands. The bracelet is microblasted titanium “ladder” style with a folding clasp. Retail pricing is $8,200.
What We Think
The Defy Shadows have been some of my favorites in the Zenith lineup, so I’m glad to see the Shadow sub-series. This is the most vibrant iteration of an otherwise monotone lineup, and I think it works well, especially on the Revival Diver. The 70s were supposed to be bright and loud. There’s a lot packed into these divers either way. With the helium escape valve and more general consumer-focused sizing of the Extreme Diver, I would predict these being a big hit for buyers.
The Basics
Brand: Zenith
Model: Defy Extreme Diver Shadow and Defy Revival Diver Shadow
Reference Number: 97.9600.3620/21.I300 (Extreme); 97.A3648.670/21.M3648 (Revival)
Diameter: 42.5mm (Extreme); 37mm (Revival)
Thickness: 15.5mm (Extreme); 15.5mm (Revival)
Case Material: Microblasted titanium
Dial Color: Black & yellow matte with starry sky pattern (Extreme); Black & yellow with SuperLuminova SLN C1 (Revival)
Indexes: Rhodium-plated, faceted (Extreme); White transferred (Revival)
Lume: SuperLuminova SLN C1 on hands and dial indices
Water Resistance: 600m (Extreme); 600m (Revival)
Strap/Bracelet: Black “cordura effect” rubber with folding clasp, microblasted titanium bracelet with folding clasp , black & yellow fabric strap with pin buckle (Extreme); Microblasted titanium “ladder” bracelet with folding clasp (Revival)
The Movement
Caliber: El Primero 3620 (Extreme); Elite 670 (Revival)
Functions: Hours, Minutes, Small Seconds, Foudroyante Seconds6 (Extreme); Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date (Revival)
Power Reserve: 60 hours (Extreme); 60 hours (Revival)
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 36,000 VpH (Extreme); 28,800 VpH (Revival)
Jewels: 35 (Extreme); 27 (Revival)
Chronometer Certified: No
Additional Details: Black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel, screwed-in crown, helium valve (Extreme); Octogonal case with iconic 14-sided bezel, unidirectional rotating bezel with yellow tinted sapphire insert, screwed-in crown (Revival)
Pricing & Availability
Price: $12,300 (Extreme); $8,200 (Revival)
Availability: Now
Limited Edition: No
For more, click here.
Hodinkee
