Zenith Unveils Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival Diver “Shadow” Editions



They often say that the watch industry moves slowly, but I’m always struck by the fact that it’s been 14 months since Zenith made its big return to the world of dive watches with the launch of the Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival Diver. Now, more than a year later, it’s time for Zenith to release some follow-up models, and they’ve duly unveiled the new Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival Diver “Shadow” editions. “Shadow” is more of a nickname than an official name used by Zenith, and refers to the dark grey hue of the micro-blasted titanium case.

Zenith Defy Extreme Diver “Shadow”

While Zenith is traditionally associated with pilots’ watches and chronographs, the Defy Extreme Diver is a professional diver’s watch with a 600m water resistance rating. This rating is actually a step up from most professional dive watches, which we classify as 300 meters water-resistant. 600 meters of water resistance qualifies it as a so-called saturation diver’s watch, designed for use in pressurized environments for days or even weeks at a time. It’s literally “extreme”, and that’s what it is.

The 42.5mm case is made from the same lightweight titanium as the 2024 model, but it’s treated in a new style. The original was brushed, which was more shiny in the light, while the Shadow version is micro-blasted for a more matte finish that shows off the depth of the titanium compared to the steel. It looks like it’s been coated with an anthracite coating, but it’s not; it’s just the natural tone of the dark metal.

To complement the watch’s dark hue, Zenith has given the Defy Extreme Diver Shadow a black dial, adorned with the modern Defy’s signature four-pointed star motif. But this watch is not without color, as you can clearly notice that the most eye-catching part of the whole design is the bright yellow minute scale on the edge of the dial. This is also a highlight of this new design.

Inside the watch is the same El Primero 3620 automatic movement with a power reserve of 60 hours. As a member of the El Primero family, it is naturally a high-frequency movement, with a vibration frequency of up to 36,000 vph, which helps to ensure the high accuracy of the watch.

Zenith Defy Extreme Diver Reference: 97.9600.3620/21.I300 Case: 42.5mm x 15.5mm, titanium Dial: Black and yellow matte with starry sky pattern Water resistance: 600m (60 bar) Movement: Zenith El Primero 3620 automatic, 26 jewels Frequency: 36,000 vph (5 Hz) Power reserve: 60h Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date Strap: Titanium bracelet, with additional black Cordura-effect rubber and black and yellow fabric straps.

Zenith Defy Revival Diver “Shadow”
Based on the 1969 A3648 watch, the Revival Diver features the iconic octagonal design and sharp faceting. Like the Extreme Diver, it’s made from micro-blasted titanium to bring out the metal’s natural deep hue. While the case is more compact, with vintage proportions at 37mm, it’s still 15.5mm thick. It’s still water-resistant to 600m, which is ironic since it’s the same as the Defy Extreme Diver, but Zenith didn’t emphasize that too much on the Revival.

Zenith has gone a step further with the yellow here, using the color on the minute markers and rotating diving bezel for a rich visual effect. With the Batman logo printed in the center of the dial, you can imagine it hanging securely on Adam West’s belt. I say this with good intentions—Adam West is the best Batman, so feel free to challenge me in the comments below.

The Zenith Defy Revival Diver Shadow is powered by the Elite 670 movement, which does not have the same performance and prestige as the El Primero movement, which has a power reserve of 50 hours and beats at 28,800 vph.

Zenith Defy Revival Diver Reference: 97.A3648.670/21.M3648 Case: 37mm x 15.5mm, titanium Dial: Black and yellow Water resistance: 600m (60bar) Movement: Zenith Elite 670 automatic, 27 jewels Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) Power reserve: 50 hours Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date Bracelet: Titanium bracelet with folding clasp.