When Zenith released their new Defy Extreme Diver at Watches & Wonders earlier this year, it was a revelation. It was also the first sniff of a proper dive watch from the brand in years. The Defy name may date back to the ‘60s, and this was indeed released alongside a throwback of the original Defy diver, but the Extreme Diver is a pure modern take on the genre the likes of which we rarely see these days. I rendered my full thoughts on the watch after spending some time with it over the summer, which you can watch right here, and I’m happy to see Zenith continue to work with the platform in interesting ways. Sure, this is just a dial color, but if it works, it works. And this works.
The Defy Extreme collection lives alongside Defy Revival references that represent the origins of the design language and ethos of Zenith sport watches from the late ‘60s. Next to one another, they represent opposite ends of the same ideas, expressed in a way that preserves those original ideas, as well as in a way that pushes those ideas to, well, their extremes. They are clearly of the same DNA, and the contrast fully fleshes out their respective concepts. I love how Zenith goes about this, and while not all of the designs land as well as I’d like, the discipline itself is truly unique in the industry.
The Extreme Diver was released with a blue and a black dial, each with orange accents. There are plenty of other design flourishes at work, and though there are some niggles with the fit and finish, this design has loads of character. This week, Zenith is adding a third variation with a silver/argenta dial that really shifts the personality of the watch as a whole. The orange accents remain unchanged, and it will still ship with three different strap options, including the link to allow for a passthru strap of your own.
Inside, things remain the same with the high beat El Primero 3620 caliber, which is visible through the caseback with a new star shape on the oscillating weight. The case is still 42.5mm in diameter and 15.5mm in thickness, so it’s still not for the faint of heart, but this is a purpose built diver, and this is plenty capable with a 600 meter depth rating. The only question will be around legibility given the new dial, especially under water.
The newest Defy Extreme Diver is a boutique edition, meaning it will be available only through Zenith boutiques both in person and online around the world. The watch is priced at $11,300. Zenith