The watchmaker introduces not one but two heritage pieces to kick off 2023.

At the LVMH Watch Week 2023 in January, Zenith expanded on its Defy collection, in particular, the Skyline series. The current Defy range is a contemporary take on the original Defy Ref. A3642 from 1969 featuring an octagonal case, tetradecagonal bezel, and an integrated lug design that made the watch a design standout at the time.

As Zenith was launching the Defy Skyline last year, it also paid tribute to the Ref. A3642 with a revival of the watch. The timepiece had a gradient chocolate dial with applied fluted hour markers and a small date window between the four and five o’clock indexes.

Now the brand has launched two revival models to kick off 2023. One will be a permanent part of the collection, and the second is a boutique exclusive.

The Defy Revival Ref. A3691

The Defy Revival A3691 is based on the 1971 model and features a ruby red dial with the same gradient effect as the A3642 revival watch but with a striking lava red dial. In fact, Zenith’s new Defy Skyline and Defy Revivals for this year are vividly hued and bring an energetic vibe to an industry typically used to subdued dials.

This will be the first Defy Revival timepiece that isn’t a limited edition, although it will be in limited production. In fact, it will be a permanent part of the collection, which means you will be able to get your hands on a piece eventually.   

The Defy Revival Ref. A3690

After bringing back Defy models from 1969 and 1971, Zenith is now also presenting a revival model from 1970 – the Ref. A3690. The watch was one of the first Zenith models to feature boldly coloured dials at a time when black and white or silvered dials were de rigueur. The gradient dials that we see so frequently today were premiered by Zenith in the 1960s and used in the A3690 with a teal blue display. This is resurrected in the Defy Revival A3690, which is exclusively available right now in boutiques and online.

Like the previous revival model, both the A3690 and A3691 watches come with a ladder bracelet based off the original Gay Frères bracelet designs that were created for the Defy models of the 1970s. For convenience, you can even select the right bracelet sizing for your wrist so that it wears well. The watches are sized at just 37mm and equipped with the self-winding Elite 670 calibre with a 50-hour power reserve. They also have a water resistance of 300m.

The two watches are retailing for S$10,200; the A3691 is available at all authorised retailers and the A3690 at Zenith boutiques and online shop. 

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