The Octagonal Defy

sirtaifun · Mar 9, 2022

I have my Defy at Zenith for Service and AFAIK their only service center for EU is in France and for Switzerland its at their HQ.
IDK if they sell service parts to independent watchmakers I would give it a try.
Service at Zenith is very overprized I would say double Omega :whipped:

But they only do what you agreed even and that was a surprize to me with a dial marked with a T for Tritium you are allowed to hold on it.
Once I read a story that Zenith never used radioactive material on their dials and hands but marked it with T `cause for customers sake but I dont know if thats true or not.

For my Defy at service they sealed the original crown with a new gasket and polished the hands and changed lume but it looks like before I would say they`ve done a great job.

connieseamaster · Mar 13, 2022

It's here and glorious!

Bracelet can accommodate up to a 7.5" wrist, and luckily the second smallest hole works for me 😁

Wound up LA · Mar 27, 2022

Just joined this forum and just (finally) got a Defy. I’m looking for a GF Ladder to go with it. I know they are expensive and there are a few on ebay/Chrono24. Is it better to buy one with ZC end links, or buy the end links separately? Many thanks!

cristos71 · Mar 27, 2022

I'd buy with the ZC endlinks if possible. It's not often I've seen them sold separately and when they were they were very expensive.

Nupero · Mar 27, 2022

I only manage to find vintage Defys without a bracelet. So that got me thinking. The ladder bracelet from Defy Revival: 1) Does it fit a vintage Defy? 2) Does Zenith sell the bracelet? 3) Cost?
Tried searching online, but found nothing and Zenith's customer service is what it is, at least in my experience.

vintage hab · Mar 27, 2022

So I recently bought two Defys, one for the dial and the other for the bracelet & crown.
1. The one on the left has a great dial, the case has a few scratches but is sharp, has a service crown, and the caseback is scratched up by someone trying to open it.
2. The one on the right has a damaged dial, clean case, original crown, and the caseback is also scratched up by someone trying to open it. But it does have a Zenith bracelet: it's a GF but no number on it.

I plan to get the left one serviced, and have the watchmaker swap the bracelet & crown. I have a local watchmaker who is ok, but was wondering if there is someone I should send it to instead who specializes in the Defys (I'm in PA).

Thoughts on my Defys?

DeathandTaxes · Mar 28, 2022

I shared my A3651 on the vintage thread, but also figured it belongs here as well:

Mooieklokjes · Mar 29, 2022

DeathandTaxes
I shared my A3651 on the vintage thread, but also figured it belongs here as well:

Stunning example!

sirtaifun · Mar 30, 2022

Nupero
I only manage to find vintage Defys without a bracelet. So that got me thinking. The ladder bracelet from Defy Revival: 1) Does it fit a vintage Defy? 2) Does Zenith sell the bracelet? 3) Cost?
Tried searching online, but found nothing and Zenith's customer service is what it is, at least in my experience.

1. AFAIK no
2. Yes
3. Roundabout 500EUR

Nupero · Mar 30, 2022

sirtaifun
1. AFAIK no
2. Yes
3. Roundabout 500EUR

Thank you! So the hunt continues.

Edit.
Zenith replied to me. I had already lost hope. Here's what they wrote:

"Thanks for your Email and interest in our product.
The bracelet 27.03.1816.M3642 that you are looking for, is so far not available now.
It will do not fit to the vintage Defy.
Once I will have a production date of this bracelet, I will let you know."

sirtaifun · Mar 30, 2022

If you`re willing to wear an almost identical if not better alternative `cause no shattering sound and solid and no dirt of a hundred years:
https://forstnerbands.com/products/the-forstner-ladder-bracelet
https://strapsco.com/product/ladder-watch-bracelet/

Nupero · Mar 30, 2022

sirtaifun
If you`re willing to wear an almost identical if not better alternative `cause no shattering sound and solid and no dirt of a hundred years:
https://forstnerbands.com/products/the-forstner-ladder-bracelet
https://strapsco.com/product/ladder-watch-bracelet/

Thanks, excellent tip! 👍 Will definitely buy one when I get a Defy.

ken_hodson · Mar 30, 2022

DeathandTaxes
I shared my A3651 on the vintage thread, but also figured it belongs here as very jealous of this beautiful blue dia

DeathandTaxes
I shared my A3651 on the vintage thread, but also figured it belongs here as well:

Very jealous of this blue dial...what a stunner!

paysdoufs · Apr 14, 2022

Sorry if the info is somewhere in the preceding 13 pages (It certainly is...), but since I just found myself a long-desired Defy A3642 on C24, I wanted to confirm its lug width before ordering a Forstner ladder bracelet for it (with the OF discount code - if it still works...) -->

I think it's 18mm, but occasionally 19mm also pops up in my Google search (mostly when leather straps are mounted) 👎 So I really want to make sure I don't order the wrong width...

BTW: Does anyone know whether the crowns were switched at some point in time during the hexagonal Defys' production period, from the simple 4-pronged (NATO) star to the one surrounded by "sound waves"? Maybe with the switch to the Cal. 2562PC and the inscription of 28'000 on the dial? Or are the "wavy" ones all later service crowns?

wristpirate · Apr 14, 2022

paysdoufs
Sorry if the info is somewhere in the preceding 13 pages (It certainly is...), but since I just found myself a long-desired Defy A3642 on C24, I wanted to confirm its lug width before ordering a Forstner ladder bracelet for it (with the OF discount code - if it still works...) -->

I think it's 18mm, but occasionally 19mm also pops up in my Google search (mostly when leather straps are mounted) 👎 So I really want to make sure I don't order the wrong width...

BTW: Does anyone know whether the crowns were switched at some time during the hexagonal Defy's production period from the simple 4-pronged star to the one surrounded by "sound waves"? Maybe with the switch to the Cal. 2562PC and the inscription of 28'000 on the dial? Or are the "wavy" ones all later service crowns?

Lug width for the Defy A3642 is 18mm.

As these were made in the late 60s/early 70s around the time when the company logo was transitioning from the NATO star to the square sound waves logo, it is my understanding that the later batches of these Defy watches are correct to have the second logo on. No hard and fast rule and nothing concrete I've seen to confirm or deny this. Most collectors, myself included, will go with the thought that the NATO crown is correct for the whole Octagonal Defy line.

paysdoufs · Apr 14, 2022

Tks so much, @wristpirate . In this case, I’ll go ahead and order with Forstner UK/EU.

Pictures upon arrival; but don’t expect too much since I was on a budget - meaning relumed hands and plexi instead of mineral crystal…

paysdoufs · Apr 17, 2022

Finished reading all 13 pages and since my A3642 is now with UPS, I thought I’d already share two pictures from its ad:

What motivated my decision were the dial, hands (although relumed) and the fresh service. So this should (hopefully) be a headache-free and good-to-go piece. And should look really nice on the Forstner ladder bracelet, too.

Speaking of relumed hands, the seconds hand was eventually re-relumed to the orange tritium tone:

Regarding the acrylic crystal, I’ll see how I like it. Poking around a bit on the web (including this thread), I was actually surprised to learn that finding a mineral crystal replacement piece is not impossible. And that includes Zenith itself, who even seem to have fitted sapphire crystals during services (according to Forum à Montres, I believe)!

paysdoufs · Apr 25, 2022

As expected, the dial is the showpiece of this example (the case is what it is). Liking the (slightly) domed plexi quite a bit; so not touching it (or anything else) right now…

Only true (but bearable) letdown is a date shift that only occurs at 3 A.M. But I guess no-one is perfect after 50 years 😉

paysdoufs · Apr 26, 2022

I'd actually like to follow-up my introductory pic with a couple of questions for the experts here (NB: My A3642 bears a collection of all possible Zenith star logos: 5-pronged one on the dial, “NATO” star in the case-back, “sound-wave” star on the crown):

1) Re. the movement: What would be a realistic expectation for the power reserve of a serviced (but nevertheless still 50-years old) 2562PC? Ranfft mentions >40h, but I guess that’s overly optimistic… (?) Also, I was wondering whether a date shift at 3 (A.M.) is something that can be easily fixed (at next service) or should better be left alone?

2) My crown has a very short “travel” to screw down - hardly a full 360-degrees turn. Not that it matters a lot since I don’t intend to get that watch wet… - but is that normal?

3) Finally, I was wondering whether there's any resource online that allows to easily deduce the year of production from the case number (323 E 9xy in my case)?

Thanks so much in advance and Viva Defy!

sirtaifun · Apr 27, 2022

I`ve knowledge only at 1)
Power reserve depends on the mainspring so if the movement have/had a service and so a new one this should be no issue.
Same to date shift this should be fixed at service.

The Octagonal Defy

sirtaifun

connieseamaster

Wound up LA

cristos71

Nupero

vintage hab

DeathandTaxes

Mooieklokjes

sirtaifun

Nupero

sirtaifun

Nupero

ken_hodson

paysdoufs

wristpirate

paysdoufs

paysdoufs

paysdoufs

paysdoufs

sirtaifun

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