Zenith has return to one of its most striking vintage watches with the Defy Revival A3648. A re-issue of the A3648 of 1969, the latest Defy Revival shares the same angular, 37 mm case and distinctive fourteen-sided bezel. While the newly released model shares the styling of the original – as well as the 600 m depth rating – it has been upgraded with modern materials, like a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal insert.

Initial thoughts

From the Defy Revival A3691 to the Chronomaster Revival, Zenith has frequently turned to its vintage watches for reissues. The brand’s approach to reissues is straightforward: maintain the original aesthetics as much as possible while upgrading them technically modern movements, superior materials, and more robust bracelets. While not a creative formula in any sense, it is an effective one, particularly with interesting and appealing vintage models.

This same formula has been applied to the Defy Revival A3648. It is a byproduct of analysing historical blueprints, thereby staying faithful to the original in most aspects, including design and the 600 m depth rating.

Priced at CHF7400, the Defy Revival A3648 is a decent value proposition, though not quite to the level that Zenith was historically known for. It’s a faithful vintage re-issue of a distinctive design that’s been updated with modern materials and quality that results in robustness and reliability superior to the vintage original.

Tasty Orange

The defining characteristics of the Revival A3648 are the orange accents on the bezel and dial, both defining features of the original. Both the dial and hands are painted in Super-Luminova that appears a clean white in the light and glows green in the dark.

Although the case is only 37 mm in diameter – like the vintage original – it is a chunky watch due to the 15.5 mm thickness. Besides its dimensions, the Defy Revival A3648 also retains the same 600 m of water resistance of the original, an unusually substantial depth rating for such a compact watch as modern-day dive watches tend to be oversized.

As with Zenith’s other Revival models, the A3648 remake also retains the same bracelet design but with modern build quality. Based on the Gay Frères’s bracelet of the original, it’s a five-link stainless steel bracelet that incorporates an extension to fit over a wet suit.

In contrast to the original, the Revival has a sapphire display back that offers a view of the Elite 670 calibre, which delivers 50 hours of power reserve and beats at 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz).

Key facts and price

Zenith Defy Revival A3648
Ref. 03.A3648.670/21.M3648

Diameter: 37 mm
Height: 15.5 mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 600 m

Movement: Elite 670
Functions: Hours, minutes, and seconds
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,800 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 50 hours

Strap: Metal bracelet with folding clasp

Limited edition: No
Availability: Available in Zenith physical and online boutiques starting April 2024
Price: CHF7,400

For more, visit zenith-watches.com.