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  1. Rifish Apr 26, 2020

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    Here is another "new" vintage Defy model: so called bi-colour Defy. Reference is still unknown, but it is exactly the same as rare A3673 but this has gilted bezel and yellow mineral glass. Glass makes dial, markers and hands look like gold coloured but dial is actually cream white and markers and hands are steel.
     
    IMG_20200424_215759_780.jpg
    Edited Apr 26, 2020
  2. Jkuback Apr 26, 2020

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    Great piece! Didn't know that bi-colour were available. Thanks for sharing.
     
    Rifish likes this.
  3. donashby Apr 26, 2020

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    What amazing boxes! Watches aren’t bad either.
     
  4. sneer Apr 26, 2020

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    I have only two...
     
    91C27262-589F-4B2C-9AF1-CAFF6BAD4874.jpeg C993F964-BF7B-4726-95BF-0843DE75EF34.jpeg
  5. Rifish Apr 26, 2020

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    Great pieces! Especially that orange Plongeur is awesome and in great shape.
     
  6. Jkuback May 9, 2020

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    To the defy crowd here: a question:

    Could someone post pics from A3643 and 3644 from the side to be able to see the crystals?

    There is this step from the mineral crystal, but are the originals domed or not? I have both versions.

    Already curious ::popcorn::
     
  7. Rifish May 9, 2020

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    There are two crystals that are made for octagonal Zenith Defy. Orginal chrystal is very thick. At some point crystal changed (different manufacturer?) to a much thinner version. This thinner version is almost at the same level as bezel but thicker version is about 2 mm higher than bezel. I guess octagonal Defy models were orginally sold with this thicker crystal so thinner one is a replacement crystal.
     
  8. Jkuback May 10, 2020

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    The pictures are the reason for my question: the right is aftermarket (missing 2mm) but left and middle have the mineral crystal while one is domed and one flat. Any ideas/infos?
    View attachment 985139 IMG_20200510_065147_MP.jpg
     
    00000PORTRAIT_00000_BURST20200510065025721.jpg
  9. Rifish May 10, 2020

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    Yes, that is intresting. I looked my watches and they had three kind of crystal:

    1. Very thick (2 mm higher than bezel) domed crystal
    2. Thick (1 mm higher than bezel) domed crystal
    3. Thin (about the same level as bezel) crystal that is domed/sligthly domed. (=newer replacement crystal). I didn't have any thick and flat one.

    I've read (one Finnish site that has lots of information about vintage watches, like Defy models) that octagonal Defy was orginally sold with thick domed crystal. Domed crystal made Defy unique while other brands had flat crystals at that time. So if that really is flat (a hard to see from the pics) it is a mystery one.
     
    Edited May 10, 2020
    MMMD likes this.
  10. MMMD unaffiliated curmudgeonly absurdist & polyologist May 10, 2020

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    It is interesting that the patent drawing from 1968 demonstrates a more markedly domed crystal than the one we see in the color illustration from Rössler’s book. Perhaps the profile of the crystal was higher in earlier models.

    B33A2DA0-3E00-4CAB-BCC9-E38C7E700617.jpeg EA657E1E-E4B8-4915-847A-505E99F40EC1.jpeg BB01675F-C36A-4EB6-91FE-641CD3D4CB62.jpeg 5949651B-6543-4813-B3A0-F34DB3531B33.jpeg
     
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  11. Ness May 10, 2020

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    The best examples of them!
     
  12. Rifish May 11, 2020

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    Thanks for your pics.

    My Defy watches have three different kind of crystals:

    1. This crystal is domed and it is about 2 mm higher than bezel.
    IMG_20200511_200922_866.jpg

    2. This crystal is about 1 mm higher than bezel and it seems to be even more domed than crystal above.
    IMG_20200511_201301_092.jpg

    3. This should be the replacement crystal. It Is almost flat and almost at the same level as bezel, maybe 0.5 mm higher.
    IMG_20200511_201620_749.jpg

    So my guess is that octagonal Defy was orginally sold with two different kind of crystal and then there is this replacement crystal that was sold much later.
     
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  13. JanV May 14, 2020

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    This just in, needs some cleaning and a service.
    Ultra sharp edges and everything original on this one.
    And love that 4/69 stamped ladder GF bracelet.
     
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    Edited May 14, 2020
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  14. Rifish May 14, 2020

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    Congrats and looks great!

    I'm not so sure about the box. I have read that octagonal Defy was orginally sold on the different kind of box.
     
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  15. JanV May 14, 2020

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    I think different countries may have had different boxes delivered with the watches? Would love to get more info on what boxes are considered correct for a Defy. And of course to know more what watches came with this brown velour box i have and is seen in previous posts in this thread.
     
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  16. Rifish May 14, 2020

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    My sourse (webpages of Finnish vintage watch expert and watchmaker) says that Zenith Defy was sold with modest red or black case that was made of cardboard. After 1972 they were sold with dark blue plastic case.
     
    Edited May 14, 2020
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  17. JanV May 14, 2020

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    Ok, i know and read his writings. Just saw this also. Thanks for the info. Then a question for what the velour box was made for?
     
  18. charlottejoshua May 15, 2020

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    First time poster here to OF. Signed up because of the vintage Zenith Defy series. Question for the experts, other than ebay, are there any other outlets one uses to find good condition Defy models from this era? Really would love to start my vintage collection with one, but am having trouble finding good condition examples that still have the Freres bracelet. Thanks in advance.
     
  19. amcclell May 18, 2020

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    I just purchased a khaki octagonal Defy. I'll post a photo when it arrives.
     
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  20. jshaw083 May 18, 2020

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    Enjoying mine plenty.

    IMG_1007-Edit-2.jpg
     
    bardamu, YYTIN, Rifish and 7 others like this.