Let’s take a closer look at the iconic watches in Zenith’s history and once again witness the captivating stories of haute horlogerie.
Every dial tells a story. An enamel dial crafted by the hands of a master artisan reminds us that handcrafting is an art that will never fade. Watching the hands chase each other across the dial or admiring the mesmerizing beauty of the mechanism through an open caseback… these moments show every watch enthusiast the joy of measuring time not from a digital screen, but still from a wristwatch.
For instance, the star on Zenith’s dials reminds us of the success stories of those who aim for the highest point in the sky. When Georges Favre-Jacot, the brand’s founder, set out 160 years ago to create the most precise wristwatch in the world, he marked the beginning of these success stories. Throughout Zenith’s nearly two-century journey, many more have been written. Looking back at this long history, we are greeted by iconic models that have left their mark on horology. Let’s take a closer look at Zenith’s legendary watches and once again witness the fascinating stories of haute horlogerie.
A Dive Watch from 1969: A364
In 1969, Zenith introduced not only its unforgettable El Primero caliber but also the iconic dive watch A3648. As one of the most successful dive watches produced that year, the A3648 offered water resistance up to 600 meters. With its 14-sided bezel and orange accents on the bezel and dial, this steel dive watch stood out — and was brought back to life at Watches and Wonders 2024. The new Defy Revival A3648, inspired by this famous model, was unveiled at the same fair, alongside Defy Extreme models that also drew inspiration from the A3648.
The new Defy Revival models are powered by the Elite 670 caliber. This year, both the Defy Extreme Diver and Defy Revival Diver collections were expanded with new models dominated by yellow tones, all housed in titanium cases. Unlike last year’s orange-accented versions, the new models feature yellow details: the Defy Revival’s bezel and dial, and the Defy Extreme Diver’s dial ring are designed in yellow.
Towards the Millennium: Chronomaster
In 1994, Zenith unveiled the Chronomaster collection, once again showcasing its technical mastery and expertise in the chronograph segment. The collection, which became the main line for the El Primero movement, drew its design language from the earliest El Primero-powered models. The iconic design featuring three differently colored sub-dials has reappeared over the years with fresh faces.
