Zenith Defy
Zenith Defy
Launched in 1969, the Zenith Defy earned the nickname "il cassaforte del tempo" (the time safe or vault), establishing a kind of benchmark for robust sports watches before the luxury steel era took off. It was meant to be an especially robust watch hence the name, Defy. Its chunky 37mm octagonal stainless steel case and unique 14-sided bezel is recognisable across a room.
There were numerous variations on the Defy model - there still are. The reference 1808-68 must have been fairly avant-garde for it’s time; the 37mm octagonal stainless steel case paired with a distinctive 14-sided bezel bypassed traditional design rules. Rather than relying solely on thickness for durability, Zenith suspended the movement inside a shock-absorbing rubber ring, guaranteeing impressive water and shock resistance and even gave it a hefty screw-down crown.
While early iterations carried the automatic 21,600 vph calibre 2552PC, this reference evolved to utilise the high beat calibre 2562PC.
Completing this striking tool watch is the iconic Gay Frères "ladder" bracelet. Characterized by its open, skeletonized links, it dramatically reduced weight while adding ventilation. the folding clasp is signed Zenith on the outside with the GF logo stamped on the inside.
Tech Specs.
Reference: Zenith 1808-68
Year: c.1971/1972
Movement: Cal. 2562 PC, automatic wind.
Service History: unknown
Dial: Silver
Case: Stainless steel with screw-in case back.
Measurements: 37mm (case diameter), 44mm lug-to-lug, 13mm thickness
Water Resistant: No
Crystal: Acrylic
Crown: signed Zenith
Strap/Bracelet: Original Gay Frères bracelet signed Zenith
Lug Width: 17mm
Box & Papers: No
Warranty: 3 months
Watches modelled on a 7” (18cms) wrist
Condition
I have a special affinity for Zenith. I find virtually all their diverse output elegant, innovative, robust and in many cases fascinating and occasionally, beautiful.
The case and bezel are in excellent condition with sharp edges as you would want. The dial is no longer a polished silver but has signs of patina and spotting clearly visible in the images - I think it gives the watch even more charm. The applied indexes are in great shape and the lume has mellowed over the decades to a kind of mild custard colour. And under ultraviolet they all show a uniform colour glow which is what you want to see. The funky second hand still retains some of the original orange. The crown is screw down but please don’t test its waterproofness as vintage watches are never meant to go anywhere near water.
The hardened mineral crystal may have been replaced in the past and has a few scratches, natch. There are a few abrasions and marks on the case and on the caseback, but it is after all a near 60 year old watch. The standout bracelet is in great condition and fits my 19cm wrist perfectly - unfortunately there are no spare links or any kinds of paperwork or box. For such a chunky watch it is surprisingly light helped by the wonderful ladder bracelet made by the famous Gay Frères factory. The stamp on the clasp, 1 71, implies the bracelet was made in the first quarter of 1971 which would tally with the corresponding date of the watch.
The instantaneous date change on the original launch models in the early 1970s has slowed somewhat to a stately changeover between 10pm and 2am. Please note that while time keeping is great on this watch there is no service history. If purchased you may want to consider getting it serviced in the future to ensure it runs strongly for many more years.
Vintage Watch Pointers
Owning a vintage watch can be incredibly rewarding - you are wearing a miraculous, tiny mechanical engine with a design, calibre, and materials from decades ago - all of which tell a story. But vintage watches are not highly accurate and shiny new like modern quartz or mechanical watches.
+/- 60 seconds a day really isn’t bad for a vintage watch. Please be aware of this before buying a watch. If you want a highly accurate timekeeper or one with a modern power reserve, it might be best to buy a new watch.
Most vintage watches have had previous services and repairs - and it’s nearly impossible to find out exactly what was done, when and by whom. However, if it’s possible to find out what parts have been replaced or repaired I will let that be known in the description.
Old watches are not waterproof either despite what it may say on the case back: please don’t take them swimming or in fact anywhere near water.
Serviced or not ?
If a watch has been serviced I will make that clear in the description. If not, then all watches are inspected and checked within my limited knowledge and will have been cosmetically cleaned and tested over a period of time for basic accuracy and reliability. I will always point out if the the watch has any scratches, dents or other issues. Some watches come with their original strap or bracelet, but most have been replaced.
Watches which have been serviced are sold with warranty (see watch description for length of warranty), which only covers mechanical defect. Watches without a service naturally only have a short warranty.
If you are a collector or enthusiast you will probably want a vintage watch which has not been over-polished or redialled and you may even prefer to get the watch serviced by your own local watch repairer.
I will always be honest and clear in the description of each watch to the best of my abilities. Any mistakes or errors are mine and would be 100% unintentional. The photos and videos are there to give you as much visual information as possible and are part of the description of the watch.
Although we have made every effort to display the information and colours accurately, the colours on your screen can be different than the original product.
At present, descriptions and images take the place of physically seeing the watches as all transactions are done online and through the website.
Returns policy
We really hope that you will be pleased with your purchase, but if not, you can return a watch bought online for any reason you want as long as you return it within 14 days of receiving the watch and as long as the goods remain in unused condition.
Click this link to see the EU
'Exercise your Right of Withdrawal'
If you wish to claim that any Goods have been delivered damaged, you must notify us of the damage and return the Goods, including all original paperwork, boxes, links, user manuals, service papers, and any other included items including the receipt or proof of purchase, within 14 days of delivery.
If, upon inspection, the Goods are found to be faulty and you meet the return requirements mentioned above, we will either attempt to repair them or issue a full refund.
In the event of a return, we recommend using a trackable service and retaining proof of postage. Any watches returned to us must be securely packaged and insured during transit. Please note that you are responsible for the cost of return postage, packaging, and insurance.
When we have received the returned item, it will be inspected before a refund is given. Please note that we reserve the right to deduct costs from the refund amount for any item returned to us which we believe to have been altered, damaged, or tampered with in any way.
We will then process a refund which will take no longer than 10 business days after we receive the returned item.
The refund is issued to the original payment method used to pay for the item. Note, it may take a further seven days for the refund to appear back on your card.
As the UK is no longer in the EU, you will have to fill in a Customs Declaration form if you return the item. Please write in the description field "wristwatch, return for factory repair / refund , no commercial value" and list the item value as £10. This is essential otherwise an import duty will be levied which you will be liable for (there is no way for us to reclaim this charge).
Warranty Policy
We can only offer a warranty on a watch that has been serviced. The warranty period applicable to your purchase will be clearly stated in the product listing. This warranty period begins from the date of purchase as shown on your receipt.
Our warranty covers the mechanical movement of the watch only, unless explicitly stated otherwise. This warranty does not cover wear and tear, accidental damage, or water damage, cosmetic deterioration, or damage caused by improper use and any issues relating to original straps.
If your watch develops a fault within the warranty period, and the fault falls within the terms of this warranty, we will inspect and, where appropriate, repair the item free of charge within a reasonable time. Please note that watch repairers can take up to 8 weeks or more depending on the nature of the repair.
The customer is responsible for the cost of return postage, insurance, and secure packaging of the watch.
The warranty will be void if the watch has been opened, serviced, or repaired by any party not authorised by us.
Shipping
Free UK mainland delivery is available on all our items. These items will usually be shipped via Royal Mail Special Delivery, fully tracked and insured. We aim to deliver orders in the UK within 3-5 working days.
Free Worldwide Shipping on all items via DHL Express or FedEx. We aim to deliver international orders within 10-15 working days.
Please note that the buyer is solely responsible for any customs duties or charges which may be payable. This is completely out of our control and separate from us. Please investigate this prior to buying. Without exception we will also put the full value of the item on the customs form.
At present we are not shipping to the USA or Canada.
We also do not ship to the following countries: Russia, Belarus, Iran and to any country in South America including Mexico.
It is also not possible to ship solid gold watches to India, due to complex import restrictions.