Zenith has resurrected the Defy Extreme Diver with plenty of verve and forthright attitude.
The 1970s influence toned down the look of some 2000s iterations, making it more approachable, yet just as bold.
Powered by the 5Hz El Primero 3620 SC, the blue or black model will be available with a titanium bracelet and two straps.
Zenith’s Defy Extreme collection doesn’t just cross boundaries, it digs them out, tears them apart, eats what’s left… and lets your imagination do the rest. One look at the new Zenith Defy Extreme Diver tells you everything you need to love or hate it, but it’s clearly made with the same “what the heck” attitude that spawned some of the greatest high-impact watches of the 2000s. It’s a sobering blow to the wrist, but Zenith has done it in a way that’s absolutely lovely and possibly even timeless.
The new Zenith Defy Extreme Diver is actually a lot tamer than its predecessors, if you can believe it. Designed during the controversial era of Thierry Nataf, they almost make the Invictas look classic. Now that Zenith is at the wheel again, and with plenty of inspiration from its own vintage models, the Defy Extreme Diver has returned as a tamed beast. The 42.5mm case is made of titanium, which is both light and comfortable, as well as corrosion-resistant. Physical comfort is one thing, but the design is sure to push some visual comfort zones. The case is angular, with a vertically brushed finish that echoes the dodecagonal edges of the inner bezel. The outer bezel is made of ceramic for timing dives, and is filled with Super-Luminova for increased visibility underwater or after dark. replica watches uk
In fact, visibility is exactly what the Defy Extreme Diver is all about. You certainly won’t miss it on anyone’s wrist, but the giant luminescent hands and hour markers can’t be ignored under any circumstances. Orange has been documented as one of the most visible colors underwater, so it’s a highlight color in both references. The black reference is the more social of the two, but it’s definitely not the kind of diver that pretends to match a tuxedo. The blue-dial version has an exaggerated aesthetic that emphasizes the complementary orange and makes the four-pointed star pattern on the brushed dial even more legible. These watches come with an interchangeable strap system, so you can easily change between a solid titanium strap, a woven textured rubber strap, and a fabric strap at any time.
Like its exterior, the Zenith Defy Extreme Diver doesn’t play around with specs. A screw-down crown locks in the water resistance to 600 meters, which is equivalent to 1,969 feet (1968.6 to be exact), in a nod to the original Defy Diver from 1969. There’s also a hidden helium escape valve for saturation diving. The movement is the El Primero 3620 SC, a high-frequency automatic movement that beats at 5 Hz, and despite the increased frequency, the power reserve remains at 60 hours. Not only does the watch meet ISO 6245 requirements for dive watches, the movement also meets ISO 764 and 1413 standards for anti-magnetic and shock resistance, for true adventure capability.
Brand Zenith
Model Extreme Diver
Reference number 95.9600.3620/21.I300
Case dimensions 42.5 mm (depth) x 15.5 mm (length)
Case material Titanium
Water resistance 600 m
Crystal Sapphire with double-sided AR coating
Dial Blue or black with four-pointed star pattern and orange highlights
Lug width Fusion
Strap H-shaped titanium strap, folding clasp,
FKM rubber and fabric strap
Movement El Primero 3620 SC, Manufacture, automatic
Power reserve 60 hours
Functions Hours, minutes, seconds, date
