The Good (and Bad) About Zenith's NEW Defy Divers...

A Discussion around Zenith's Defy Diver (Extreme & Revival) After years of waiting, Zenith has finally returned to producing Dive Watches again. And in typical fashion they are bold and very interesting. But the question is whether they may have made these pieces too contemporary for a modern audience?

#IDGuy #zenith #zenithwatches

Intro 0:00
Defying Watch Design 0:34
Zenith Watches and Wonders 2024 1:32
Zenith Defy Diver A3648 (and Problems) 2:58
Zenith Defy Extreme Diver Design 4:48
Inspirations (S58, A3630) & Redesign 6:16
Conclusion 9:17

All Images are Sourced from either Press Release Photos or Public Listings.
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[ID-Guy]

Hot Take: The A3648 was my favourite unveiling from W&W 2024. Not only is it cool to see Zenith taking on the Dive watch again BUT the sheer impracticality of the original Defy diver is something I enjoy so much. What are your thoughts of this new series and of the Extreme Diver? 🥃

[Kbo]

I was in Watches and Wonders and I got to try on all of Zenith’s new watches. The revival one was really nice. I think what a lot of publications missed out on is the lume. Putting it through a black light highlights another unique quality of the revival piece.

As for the extreme driver, it was the surprise hit for me in Watches and Wonders. I was initially put off by the press photos, but actually wearing it and seeing it in person really made the difference. I told my AD to put me on the list - I just can’t decide the final color however. It’s wearable due to the titanium case and the strap changes are really fun. The only slight gripe I had was the bezel action especially compared to a Submariner or Pelagos FXD. The thickness is not a Great Wall of Tudor slab - the helium escape valve breaks up the thickness and the rest of the thickness comes from the clear caseback and top glass.

Funnily enough, I did get Doxa and Zodiac designs too as I was shopping around Doxa’s new releases. Alpina also released a diver similar to this as well.

My thoughts, after being around Rolex Submariners, Seadwellers, GO SeaQs, JLC Polaris, Tudor Black Bays, Pelagos these last couple of years - I’ve been after a fun new diver design. And Zenith delivered. I think it caters more to that crowd - I actually see this being used in the water instead of just wearing in the office. It’s too wacky in an office setting and wants to be near the water.

[ericohlsson]

I love your enthusiasm for Zenith! I am about to get this one, and I have the Defy revival in red, the titanium chrono sport, and the 384 revival with white dial and black sub dials(I know you love that one). The 3648 would be the fourth. I just dig the way they look. I like the smaller sizes, and for the sport, the lighter weight. That’s a great daily it’s so light. Want get a strap for that one, too. I enjoyed the strap hunt video you did for the 384- the Omega red with white. Keep up the thoughtful vids, man!!

[Matoyalin]

huge Zenith fan, saw the A3648 and Defy Extreme Diver in person and I couldn't take the Defy Extreme Diver Blue off my wrist!

[Rodisflawless]

The new Defy Extreme Diver is on my shopping list. Can't wait to try it on.

[therapiststeve]

Damn, your videos just keep getting better! I love what you chose to focus on as well as your insight and commentary. I've learned a lot from your videos. I'm and ID fanboy!

[AbdulRWatches]

Great video my friend, I think Zenith is doing great in the past 5 years. Zenith could use some designers and executives from Tudor to perfect their diver watches 😁

[jean-claudebeaver]

Nice one mate. Love those tweaks to the extreme, I would have looked more than twice at that one! The elite rainbow diver line is also a hidden gem and whilst not perfect could have been uselful in terms of platform. Not to mention the EL PRIMERO rainbow. An updated mango?! Now that would be something else

[brysoga]

I love this revival watch, I will almost certainly be buying one

[Reese]

these new releases are very exciting. well done to Zenith for daring to try something new. just bought the new white Rolex Explorer 2 and need to take it easy for a while. Had I more funds, these models would
be in the shortlist.

[bjarkelykkemadsen]

Great video with good points. Personally, I think these are Epic-Cool and I prefer interesting, weird watches like these over mass-appealing, boring watches any day. Just my opinion:)

[XiaoqiuQIU]

Totally agree. The revival A3648 would be even more attractive if it were thinner. They could even do the titanium formula and make it ultralight.
Your redesigned minute hand resembles the SeaQ hand from Glashütte Original though.

[WatchAdvisor]

In my view, Zenith has done everything right here. Tastes differ... If you want to dive back into the diver's watch segment after so many years of absence and want to be noticed, then I would have done the same. The alternatives you have shown are not daring enough, far too adapted to the mainstream, they would have simply sunk and drowned, figuratively speaking. You have to have had the watch on your wrist and preferably compare it 1:1 with others... After that, I think you'll see it less as a possible thematic mistake…

[bestboy]

excellent writing love the retro design of these divers clearly inspired by doxa and zodiac which I love too.

[Spinks]

Thank you for the video. The only thing I would change is the hands. You can still be bold without a club.

[auforu]

It refreshing to see a watch company take some risks - sometimes they dont work out , zenith have done a great job in my opinion

[marcgirard]

Great critique and thank you for covering these releases. We heard nothing of these from pretty much any other channel. I agree that the diver is a swing and a miss and I do think your suggested adjustments would have made it much more successful. They went a little too crazy with this one.

[Joe-xoxy]

You know what, I was about to say something great about Zenith but I waited for you to talk and bam!
I got hit in the face with the el primero moonphase chrono, it is so reminiscent of Universal Geneve, not sure if they supplied the calibre to UG. However. the new divers look like what we'd see today until you dig into the details, it is for a very accomplished watch collector that would wear something incognito, orange is loud but as I said, the engineering put into these watches have to be appreciated. It is such an under rated brand.

[robertp]

Thank you for the review. I agree that the new release looks similar to the Zodiac. With all of that said, Zenith has revitalized the brand. I was lucky to get the Aaron Rodgers Chronomaster. It’s a limited edition. The pictures do not do it justice. You need to see this piece on your wrist. It’s absolutely stunning.

[XiaoqiuQIU]

Having the crown at 4:30 actually plays well with a 4:30 date window. And when done properly like on the A3648 it doesn't look too unbalanced.