ReviewPresenting The Zenith Defy Revival Shadow In Titanium That Overshadows Other Defy Revival Watches
Scaling new heights as far as resurrected watches go, Zenith’s Defy Revival Shadow timepiece in titanium is a worthy example of what a contemporary take on a vintage watch should be
May We Recommend
For a watch inspired by a 1960s design, Zenith’s 2023 Defy Revival Shadow is so much more than a resurrected historical model. This is the fourth iteration of the brand’s iconic Defy model from 1969, the first-ever watch with an octagonal case, a distinctive 14-sided bezel, mounted on a ‘ladder’ bracelet. Though comparisons are wrong, especially since all Zenith Defy Revival models share the same DNA, this 2023 Defy Revival Shadow easily overshadows all its older siblings. In a matt-finished titanium case paired with a matching titanium ‘ladder’ bracelet, the Defy Revival Shadow takes a classic design up several notches, setting a new benchmark for what a resurrected watch should be in modern times—contemporary, relevant, practical and beautiful.
In Defiance Of Resurrecting An Icon
For the most part, Swiss watchmaking brand Zenith are defined by their El Primero movement. This was the first ever integrated automatic chronograph—although it was doomed for not being the first automatic chronograph, and for having arrived just before the quartz crisis shook the Swiss watchmaking world. This was in 1969, an iconic year for Zenith. That was also the year when the brand also introduced their Defy collection.
Fifty years later, in 2019, along with resurrecting the El Primero movement, Zenith also revived the original Defy A3642 model with a beautiful fumé grey-ish, brown-ish dial in the same distinctive octagonal case and 14-sided bezel as the original. This was a very close reproduction of the original and the changes were only cosmetic—Super-LumiNova replaced tritium for the skeletonised hands, a sapphire crystal glass protected the dial instead of plexiglass, and the closed caseback made way for an exhibition window displaying the Elite 670 calibre inside.
This, however, was a limited 250-piece edition. Zenith followed this with the introduction of two other Revival models that found a permanent place in their catalogue. These were based on later Defy timepieces from the 1970s, when bright colours had already taken hold in the watchmaking. While each of these red and blue Revival watches had their own distinct appeal, they were, in their own right, faithful renditions of the first Defy from 1969.
The Large Shadow Of The Defy Revival Shadow
After having successfully brought back an icon, the brand seems to have decided to take on a different challenge, a tougher peak, a higher summit, so to speak. Faithfully reviving a success story from the glory days of watchmaking is one thing. Making it contemporary and relevant to the present is a whole other thing. And this is what Zenith have managed with their Defy Revival Shadow watch. This 2023 revival features the 1969 icon’s smooth lines and easily-identifiable 37mm facetted geometric case, tetradecagonal bezel and the ‘ladder’ bracelet designed by the watchmaking world’s most renowned bracelet-maker Gay Frères. Overall, these look nothing like the original, in that they’re made from microblasted titanium, with a matt-finish. Not only is the material futuristic, lightweight and corrosion resistant, but its deep grey finish gives the watch a seamless aesthetic, not to mention enhanced ergonomics, proving just how timeless the original Defy’s design code actually is.
The Defy Revival Shadow’s matt black dial is a far cry from the 1960s and 70s brightly-coloured dials. Offsetting the starkness of the watch are cream Super-LumiNova filled rhodium-plated sword-shaped hour and minute hands and a paddle-shaped seconds hand, and polished, rhodium-plated square markers with horizontal grooves. The Defy Revival collection’s discreet date aperture at 4.30 takes nothing away from the gorgeous display of the dial.
On turning the watch over, the new satin finishing of Elite 670’s star-shaped rotor is distinctly visible through the sapphire caseback. The movement beats at 28,800vph and offers a power reserve of 50 hours. With a screwed-down star-embossed crown, the watch is water resistant to 300m, making the Defy Revival Shadow a worthy option for everyday wear.
A step ahead of its predecessors, the Zenith Defy Revival Shadow timepiece is a younger sibling that knows its mind and paves its own path into the future, while also keeping track of its timeless heritage and vintage roots.
