At Watches & Wonders 2023, Zenith launched the Pilot collection, drawing inspiration from the world of aviation. This passion of the maison is not new but dates back to the late 19th century when the founder, Georges-Favre Jacot, was convinced that man was about to conquer the skies and wanted to accompany the brave pioneers with his watches, making them an essential tool during flight.
Less than a year after its debut, the Pilot collection is now enriched with two new versions, an automatic time-only and a flyback chronograph.
Zenith Pilot Automatic
If the first versions of the Pilot collection were characterized by the predominance of black, things change here. Dominating instead is blue, both on the dial and the strap. The dial is still characterized by the horizontal groove motif that recalls the metal used for the fuselages of vintage aircraft. The applied indices, provided with SuperLuminova, thanks to their elegant and ample font, contribute to excellent dial readability without compromising aesthetics.
The 40 mm case and the overlaid bezel are made of steel with vertical satin finishes alternating with polished bevels on the edges, a common but extremely pleasing finish to the eye. The sapphire glass case back allows observing the El Primero 3620 caliber with a 60-hour power reserve.
The list price for this watch is EUR 8,100.00 and can be purchased only in boutiques and on the official Zenith website.
Zenith Pilot Big Date Cronografo Flyback
The new Big Date Flyback Chronograph has also been revisited in blue. Here we find again the applied indices and the same horizontal groove motif. In addition, there are two counters at 3 and 9 o’clock with white scales, as well as all the hands on the dial. A particularity of this chronograph is the big date positioned at 6 o’clock, animated by a mechanism patented by Zenith that animates and synchronizes the two date discs in 0.03 seconds. I’m not usually a fan of dates on watches, but Zenith has done an excellent job, and on this dial, the window is perfectly integrated, marrying the contour flawlessly.
Inside the 42.5 mm steel case, we find the El Primero 3652 chronographic caliber with big date and flyback chronograph. As you know, the Flyback function was essential to allow the pilot to easily time multiple consecutive times by pressing a single button. This version also has a 60-hour power reserve.
The list price for the Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback Chronograph is EUR 12,300.00.
Final Thoughts
These two new versions launched in anticipation of LVMH Watch Week 2024 testify to Zenith’s renewed commitment to aviation, an area that has always been part of the heritage and passion of the maison. The Pilot collection was born only in 2023, and we can’t wait to discover what new models it will be enriched with in the future.
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