It showcases a few purple jewels, golden gears, and the star-shaped custom rotor with a vintage-style matte finishing. Unlike the original Defy model that had a solid caseback, on this flip-side is a sapphire exhibition caseback that allows a view into the inner workings of the mechanical movement. The robust look of this watch, back when it was first released earned it the “coffre-fort” nickname, which is French for “bank vault”. The octagonal 37mm case is made of stainless-steel with a polished and brushed finish, while mounted to the case is a tetradecagon (14-sided) bezel with a polished finish.

That fact alone makes this trip down memory lane a worthy detour to introduce the new “Zenith Defy Revival A3642”. This elaborate design may not be as celebrated, but actually predates Gérald Genta’s Royal Oak. Zenith has now landed specifically in 1969 and decided to reproduce the earliest Defy model. After reintroducing a series of El Primero models from the 1960s and 1970s that were well received.

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