【2025 New Watch】ZENITH｜DEFY Extreme Diver & DEFY Revival Diver Launches New “Shadow” Model
Since 1969, the ZENITH DEFY series has always been a symbol of toughness and precision. In 2024, the brand faithfully reproduced the classic DEFY Diver A3648 diving watch and launched the new DEFY Extreme Diver. Both watches are now available in a striking micro-sandblasted titanium “Shadow” version, combining retro inspiration with bold modern design. The style is low-key and mysterious, designed for contemporary explorers, ready to venture into the abyss at any time.
The DEFY series is nicknamed the “Time Safe” for its sturdy structure and safe-like movement protection, and has quickly become a new benchmark for watch durability. The most iconic model is the DEFY Diver A3648, also known as the DEFY Plongeur, a true professional diver’s watch with 600-meter water resistance and a rotating bezel. In 2024, ZENITH once again demonstrates its commitment to extreme performance with the new DEFY Extreme Diver and a faithful remake of the acclaimed A3648. Now, both models are reinterpreted in a striking micro-blasted titanium “Shadow” version, combining vintage inspiration with a bold, modern design. The new models are understated and mysterious, designed for modern explorers, ready to venture into the abyss.
Designed for the most demanding underwater exploration environments, the DEFY Extreme Diver and DEFY Revival Diver are made of lightweight yet sturdy titanium. Its bold, angular DEFY case is microblasted to a matte finish, highlighting the architectural lines and giving it a unique, understated, mysterious aesthetic. The dark tones and delicate, soft textures exude a sense of precision technology, while the bright yellow details inject a sense of vitality, making the watch both practical and eye-catching.
DEFY Extreme Diver: Designed for the Deep, Built for the Extreme
The DEFY Extreme Diver Shadow is a modern descendant of Zenith’s first DEFY diver’s watch from 1969, designed for extreme underwater environments. This rugged watch features a 42.5 mm microblasted titanium case, combining practical functionality with eye-catching looks. Its dodecagonal bezel is topped by a black ceramic unidirectional rotating bezel, which is covered with Super-LumiNova to ensure that the wearer can read the time clearly in any situation. The bezel edge is grooved for easy operation even with gloves, ensuring precise control.
Designed for high-oxygen saturation diving, this watch is water-resistant to 600 meters and has a helium escape valve. The screw-down crown is protected on both sides. The black four-pointed star geometric dial is equipped with C1 Super-LumiNova-coated hour markers and hands, and is embellished with bright yellow to enhance readability in low-light environments.
ZENITH breaks the convention and rarely uses a transparent case back design on a watch with such a waterproof depth, revealing the stylish black El Primero 3620 automatic winding movement. This movement has a frequency of up to 36,000 times per hour and is equipped with an anti-magnetic escapement mechanism. The main parts are made of silicon, and the bidirectional winding system can provide 60 hours of power reserve.
The DEFY Extreme Diver Shadow diving watch is paired with a micro-blasted titanium three-link bracelet and comes with two interchangeable straps. The first is a durable black rubber strap with a “Cordura” textured nylon effect and a folding clasp. The second model, in line with the brand’s HORIZ-ON sustainable action, is a black and yellow one-piece fabric strap made from recycled fishing nets and is paired with a pin buckle. The watch is equipped with an integrated strap quick-release component, which allows easy replacement of the bracelet without tools.
DEFY Revival Diver Challenge Remake Diver Watch: A Classic Remake in Titanium
The DEFY Revival Diver Shadow challenge replica dive watch faithfully reproduces the original DEFY A3648 dive watch in 1969, with a 37mm micro-blasted titanium case, integrating retro charm into modern design. This watch is loyal to the design language of the original DEFY series watch, using its iconic fourteen-sided bezel design, and also has a round unidirectional rotating bezel made of titanium and inlaid with yellow sapphires. The screw-in crown inherits the original set at 4:30, which is more ergonomic. The DEFY Revival Diver Shadow is water-resistant to 600 meters (1,969 feet), a subtle nod to the year the DEFY collection was born.
The bold, vibrant black and yellow color scheme extends to the dial, which is matte black with bright yellow hands and minute track for a more dynamic feel. The hands and hour markers are covered with white Super-LumiNova, ensuring clear reading even in the dark depths of the ocean. The DEFY Revival Diver Shadow is powered by the Elite 670 automatic movement, which displays hours, minutes, seconds and date. It is worth noting that despite its water-resistant depth of 600 meters and compact size, the watch is still equipped with a transparent caseback that allows the wearer to clearly see the movement. The movement’s oscillating weight is decorated with Geneva waves and hollowed out to form the ZENITH star logo. The Elite 670 movement operates at 4 Hz and offers a 50-hour power reserve. This watch is presented on a classic Gay Frères-style bracelet made from lightweight titanium with the same micro-blasted finish as the case. The titanium folding clasp ensures a comfortable and secure wearing experience.