AN UNEXPECTEDLY MODERN MAKEOVER
ZENITH imagines a different interpretation of the original DEFY silhouette from 1969 in a contemporary and covert manner for its most recent addition to the DEFY Revival collection. The blacked-out ZENITH watches that the company made in very small quantities as working prototypes as early as 1970 have some historical precedent, but the DEFY Revival Shadow is a contemporary design with a retro silhouette. The DEFY Revival Shadow creatively combines the historical model's lineage with a modern accent through dark tones and muted textures, much like the Chronomaster Revival Shadow that came before it.
The DEFY's distinctive angular steel case stuck out with its brightly polished and satin-brushed surfaces, starting with the A3642 in 1969. However, the DEFY Revival Shadow assumes a distinctly subdued and massive appearance. The highly angular DEFY Revival case with its fourteen-sided bezel is entirely microblasted for a matte finish, revealing the dark grey tone of titanium and enhancing the geometry of the unique and instantly recognisable case. It is made of titanium, a metal praised for its light weight but impressive durability and resistance to corrosion. Such a contemporary selection of tones and textures for a design that was created in 1969 serves to further highlight how innovative ZENITH was with the DEFY range. In actuality, decades later, the silhouette is still totally modern and edgy.
In 1969, the well-known Gay Frères company created the well-known "ladder" bracelet for the brand. The links and clasp are made of titanium and have the same matte finish as the case. This is a first for ZENITH. The lightweight nature of titanium further enhances the ergonomics and comfort of this time-tested band. It is fastened with an updated foldable clasp that feels more streamlined and ergonomic.
The DEFY Revival Shadow's matte black dial has a distinctively vintage appearance, which is almost paradoxical considering how the original DEFY line of wristwatches prominently featured vibrant dial colours and striking gradient effects. For maximum visibility, the applied square hour markers have horizontal grooves, and the hands, which are filled with cream-coloured Super-LumiNova pigment, are polished and finished in rhodium.
The automatic Elite 670 manufacture movement is visible through the sapphire display back and maintains the case's impressive 30-ATM (300-meter) water proof. The movement has a power reserve of 50 hours and runs at a cadence of 4 Hz (28,800 VpH).
The DEFY Revival Shadow shows how the uncanny shape of the historically important DEFY was so different and ahead of its time that it is just as important today as it was in 1969.
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