Zenith Defy Extreme Diver Shadow

Jamie Weiss

Zenith isn’t a model you instantly affiliate with dive watches. Chronographs? Most undoubtedly. Pilot’s watches? They actually have the trademark on the time period. However the Le Locle agency is greater than able to making a succesful dive watch, one thing they reminded us of final yr after they launched the Defy Excessive Diver. Minimize from an analogous material to the outlandish Defy Xtreme fashions produced by the model within the 2000s underneath flamboyant CEO Thierry Nataf (however fortunately that includes a way more tasteful design), the Defy Excessive Diver combines ‘superdiver’ specs with an El Primero motion and an on-trend built-in bracelet design in a really compelling luxurious dive watch bundle.

This newest variant of the Defy Excessive Diver, nonetheless, dials the device watch vibes as much as 11, cloaking this dive watch in the identical darkish, microblasted titanium used within the model’s latest limited-edition ‘Shadow’ fashions, contrasted with daring yellow highlights to stress its aquatic intentions.

The case

Each mannequin in Zenith’s Defy Xtreme vary again within the day shared a 46.5mm case diameter – which is very large now, however was significantly so again then. This new Defy Excessive Diver, nonetheless, isn’t fairly as imposing. At 42.5mm in diameter and 15.5mm thick, it gained’t be accused of being a small watch, however contemplating its strong specs and gear watch intentions, it’s a wholly acceptable measurement.

The Defy Excessive Diver was initially launched in brushed titanium, however this mannequin’s microblasted titanium is much more good-looking. I believe this end has been chosen largely for aesthetic causes, however I feel it fits this watch’s robust character. As for the case itself, it’s appropriately beefy and angular, with chunky hex-head-affixed crown guards bolted on alongside a big star-motif crown. This case supplies water resistance to 600 metres, with an automated helium launch valve protruding from its facet at 9 o’clock signalling such functionality. The Defy Excessive Diver additionally meets the strict ISO 6425 necessities for deep dive watches.

What’s significantly cool is the way it integrates refined design cues from the unique Defy of 1969, specifically with its refined dodecagonal bezel plinth. Talking of the bezel, it additionally deserves a shout-out. A comparatively skinny design, it’s crafted from black ceramic and options very satisfying knurling, making it simple to grip even with very pruney fingers. Once more, I feel using ceramic right here is primarily an aesthetic one: a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel can defend a watch’s crystal towards scratches or chips, however the titanium bezel plinth, which frames the crystal, sits larger than the ceramic bezel – which means it’s titanium that’ll take a blow, not the ceramic.

This isn’t a dealbreaker for me, although, as I feel it’s an intriguing-looking design, and one which’s really fairly trustworthy to Zenith’s first-ever dive watch, the Defy Diver A3648 ‘Plongeur’ from 1969, which Zenith additionally revived final yr with the Defy Revival A3648. That watch has additionally acquired a ‘Shadow’ makeover in 2025 alongside this Defy Excessive Diver in microblasted titanium with yellow highlights… However I feel the Defy Excessive Diver Shadow, as I’m dubbing it, is the superior watch.

The dial

This Defy Excessive Diver Shadow is a particularly legible watch, due to its giant indices and spade-shaped semi-skeletonised fingers, all of which have giant expanses of Tremendous-LumiNova. The intense yellow minute observe can also be onerous to overlook – it accounts for under a comparatively small quantity of dial actual property within the grand scheme of issues, however wow… It simply pops. Yellow may not be probably the most sartorially versatile color, however it actually works nicely right here, contrasting with the matte black dial in addition to the black bezel and darkish microblasted titanium of its case.

The dial texture can also be subtly aquatic, too. The four-pointed star motif tesselated like this jogs my memory of the tiles on the underside of a pool… Possibly that’s simply my mind working in mysterious methods. I additionally recognize the dial colour-matched date window at 3. There’s a contact of caprice to be discovered within the five-pointed star counter-balance on the seconds hand. By the best way, notice how they’ve rounded up 600 metres to 1969 toes, commemorating the discharge date of the Defy Diver A3648. Good.

The straps

Every Zenith Defy Excessive Diver Shadow comes with three totally different strap choices: an built-in, tapered microblasted titanium bracelet with a symmetrical folding clasp; a Cordura-effect rubber strap with an asymmetrical folding clasp; and a black and yellow single-piece cloth strap secured with a pin buckle.

You may be asking how Zenith can provide a single-piece cloth strap when the Defy Excessive Diver is an built-in bracelet watch. Nicely, they’ve provide you with a relatively novel resolution: two fixed-bar end-links that may connect and detach through the watch’s quick-change system, which permits a single-piece strap to be fed via. The black and yellow weave could be very eye-catching and accentuates the Defy Excessive Diver Shadow’s sporty character.

The built-in microblasted titanium bracelet feels very premium, with a satisfying taper in the direction of the buckle. Nonetheless, for the week I had the watch, I discovered myself carrying it most steadily on the rubber strap: the rubber compound Zenith has used could be very pliable and cozy. The asymmetrical folding clasp does take some getting used to – one half is launched through push-buttons on the clasp, whereas the opposite half is a friction-fit. Nonetheless, when you’ve bought the cling of it, it turns into second nature.

The motion

Powering the Zenith Defy Excessive Diver is the El Primero 3620 SC, a three-handed tackle the enduring motion that beats at 5 Hz but maintains a formidable 60-hour energy reserve. It’s not usually that you simply see high-beat calibres cased inside dive watches, so this El Primero is an enormous promoting level. It’s additionally uncommon for a watch with such a big depth score to have an exhibition caseback, so kudos to Zenith.

Should you’re a daily reader of Time+Tide, then you definately’re little doubt conversant in the El Primero motion in all its guises… Watching that easily sweeping central seconds hand is all the time such a pleasure. A paramagnetic escapement with key elements crafted from silicon helps it obtain ISO requirements 764 and 1413 for anti-magnetism and shock resistance.

The decision

After carrying the Zenith Defy Excessive Diver Shadow for per week, I need to say I turned relatively enamoured with it (and barely regretful that we didn’t base our third Zenith ‘Surfer’ collaboration on this mannequin – though the White Surfer is fairly sick…) It really feels just like the sort of watch a saturation diver from the twenty second century would possibly put on. The interaction between the stealthy titanium and black dial with its high-vis yellow highlights

Its closest competitors could be one thing like an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore – but I feel this Zenith is, counter-intuitively, a extra refined watch than an AP ROO. Sure, it’s huge, robust and audacious, however it’s additionally fairly thought-about in its design. The three totally different strap choices are all glorious, too: all with their very own ergonomic and aesthetic advantages.

Zenith Defy Excessive Diver Shadow pricing and availability

The Zenith Defy Excessive Diver Shadow is accessible now from Zenith boutiques and retailers. Value: US$12,800, A$20,100