At Watches & Wonders 2023, you might hear a lot about “sleeper hits.” Often, I’m not really a fan of that distinction but there’s one watch I’m noticing this year that may actually earn the title from me. I’ve written a few articles about Zenith on this site. And while the brand is not necessarily value-focused or in line with what we usually discuss on the podcast, I do feel that they’ve been producing some of the most interesting watches in a very specific price bracket lately. These are the kind of watches that give you a lot for the price and I often look at a Zenith price tag and think to myself, “hmm, okay I get it.” The latest model to catch my eye is the new Zenith Defy Revival Shadow, a watch that may even dethrone the IWC Ingenieur Automatic 40 as my favorite watch from the show.
The Revival lineup is a smaller group of products under Zenith’s growing modern Defy collection focused on watches inspired by the A3642 from 1969. Recently Zenith has released a handful of versions; two boutique editions and a non-limited model with a red dial. They aren’t exactly the stealthiest of watches and you really gotta love those 70s vibes to pull those colors off. Now, the Zenith Defy Revival Shadow takes the design and modernizes it, with an almost grey man style matte black titanium case and titanium ladder bracelet. It’s an absolute first for this design. Even with its vintage foundation, the watch still features a screw-down crown with 300 meters of water-resistance and the Elite 670 movement with 50 hours of power reserve.
Zenith Defy Revival Shadow Specs
- Case diameter: 37mm
- Case thickness: 13.6mm
- Water resistance: 300m
- Case material: Micro-blasted titanium
- Movement: Zenith Elite 670
- Power reserve: 50 hours
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bracelet: Titanium ladder bracelet and clasp
- Price: $7,400
Now at $7,400, I’m not exactly running to a local Zenith boutique to pick one up. Still, the 14-sided bezel and an 8-sided case make for such a cool look, almost like a non-Genta alternative to some of the more recent hotness watches out there. To my knowledge, it’s not a limited edition or anything and I think the watch will be available soon after the show is over. For more info on the Zenith Defy Revival Shadow, visit the brand’s official site.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.