A Defiant Answer to the Rumours
That’s the Defy Revival A3643, the latest interpretation of the 1969 original that follows the return of 2024’s ‘Plongeur’ model, the ruby-coloured dial A3691 in 2023 and the A3642 that brought Defy back to the Zenith line-up in 2022.
Prior to LVMH buying Zenith in 1999, the Defy name had ended-up on a series of unexceptional quartz and automatic watches of decidedly 1980s design, but the passionate Thierry Nataf gave the range a serious shake-up after taking over as CEO in 2001.
Nataf - whose Neru collars, frock coats, well-oiled hair and whirlwind style ensured he stood-out from other watch suits – undoubtedly did some wild things with conservative Zenith, not least in respect of the Defy line (remember the madly radical Defy Xtreme models that cost up to $500,000?).
But no one can say he didn’t put the brand back on the map.
Back to the Bolt: Faithful to 1969
Georges Favre-Jacot first used the Defy nameplate (albeit spelled ‘Defi’) shortly after founding Zenith in 1865, but it was only in 1969 that it was adopted to indicate the maker’s ultra-robust wrist watch offering that went on to comprise a wide range of round, square and cushion-cased models in steel, gold and bi-metal.
But for Zenith tool watch fans, the original A3642 (nicknamed ‘the Bolt’) will always be the best - and this new version is described as an ‘accurate re-interpretation’ having been created, as with the 2022 model, from high precision scans of a piece from ’69.
That means the octagonal, 37mm steel case with its 14-sided bezel is spot-on, and that the bracelet it hangs on is a faithful recreation of the ladder design originally made by Gay Freres.
A Tool Watch, Just as It Should Be
Instead of the solid case back of recent Defy models, this new one gets a sapphire crystal exposing the Elite 670 movement, while on the dial side you’ll find a sunray silver effort with applied faceted and rhodium-plated hour markers and matching hands – all coated with Super-Luminova SLN C1 for the glow-in-the-dark performance we’ve come to expect from a proper tool watch.
So it’s a plain steel three-hander with a silver dial and silver-grey markers.
Which might have been a bit boring were it not for that one, tiny dab of orange on the tip of the seconds hand that (as promised) is faithful to the 1969 A3642 and turns this watch into a real-eye-catcher.
The use of vintage script on the dial also increases appeal, as do the suitably pressure-defiant water resistance rating of 300m and a fair price tag of Euros 7,900/ £6,700/$7,800.
Buy one, and don’t be fearful of using it like the tool that it’s supposed to be – it’s one of those watches that will go on getting better the more adventure it sees….
