Back To The Future with Zenith’s DEFY Revival A3690

In the last couple of years, Zenith seems to have found immense success with their Revival models. And I think one of the main reasons it is successful is that they reproduce them near identical to the original models. I, for one, love the design of vintage pieces but will happily acknowledge I lack the knowledge nor the chump change required to have these historical pieces in my collection. Therefore, the Revival models that Zenith offers are a fantastic way to add some neo-vintage watches to any collection without all the other headaches that come with buying a 50 to 60-year-old watch.

For this year, one of the watches they are adding to the Revival segment is the insanely cool A3690. Just look at this thing, I can confidently say that there is nothing quite like it out there in today’s market and everything about it simply oozes 1970s style. The Zenith DEFY Revival A3690 represents the second watch in the DEFY collection that was first launched in 1969. This piece which debuted in 1970, offered the same “bank vault” case, but with a strikingly coloured dial.

The new version of this vintage classic comes with a new tropical teal blue dial and keeps all the signature elements of the original DEFY case. If the 14-sided bezel and the faceted octagonal case are not eye-catching enough for you, then the inclusion of the unusual square hour markers with horizontal grooves and the Gay Frères steel “ladder” bracelet should adequately do the trick.

The very welcomed difference in the watch comes with the use of a transparent caseback and a new type of pigment for its luminescence. Additionally, the watch is powered by a modern Zenith movement – Elite 670 calibre manufacture movement – that beats at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 VpH) with a power reserve of 50 hours. Also, you can be sure that its advertised water resistance of 300m will definitely hold up, unlike the uncertainty that comes with purchasing a watch that is five to six decades old.

The Zenith DEFY Revival A3690 is available now at Zenith boutiques with a retail price of MYR31,100.