Welcome Home DF-2002
The elusive Defender DF-2002 was always on my “watch” list when I learned about it after receiving and promptly posting some DF pictures way back in 2012. A quick Google search at the time brought up a few DF-2001 pictures and forums, but nothing about the DF-2002 except a really blurry photo of one that sold on a Philippines based auction site in 2011. Challenge accepted!
Fast forward to late 2024 and I saw a few on eBay — well let me clarify, I found 2 on eBay in the same listing and the price was a little to high for this college tuition paying, car insurance for teenage boy dad. I made some sales, saved a few bucks and was ready to buy and then poof gone. I took some screenshots and thought well at least I have some pictures for my records and this website. Earlier this year however a lone DF-2002 was posted with a blue leather strap and it was mine. I paid $116 for this watch and proud to finally own my very own DF-2002 and almost completing my DF collection.
I like the odd stuff and really enjoyed the chase for this piece. I wanted to mainly post some pictures and then talk about the blue strap which I think might be original to the watch.
The DF-2002 was originally $375 and all pictures I have found over the years has a stainless 20mm bracelet similar to the DF-2001 and the older Speedways that we all love. My watch came with a blue leather strap made by Hirsch right out of the 90’s complete with a Defender logo on the buckle. I thought this was strange because of all the DF-2001s I have owned over the years a leather strap was never included or even pictured new old stock items I’ve seen. Going down the eBay and Google image rabbit hole I found a picture of another DF-2002 that had a very weathered blue strap at the bottom of the Defender box. Mystery solved! The blue strap is original, but why no pictures in any of the materials I own and/or pictures I’ve seen online over the years. I reached out to Hirsch with zero luck so far. Anyone know anything about this partnership/collab?
