Swiss watchmaker Zenith has added three powerful, rare and sophisticated new aviator’s watches to its iconic Pilot collection. 

Whether fitted with a meteorite dial, housed in a bronze case or displaying a breathtakingly light architecture, each of these new launches is heir to the onboard instruments developed by the manufacture during the infancy of aviation. 

These exclusive timepieces are endowed with the main attributes of their legendary forebears: a high-precision movement, an imposing diameter, a broad ratcheted screwed-in crown, as well as large Arabic numerals swept over by finely crafted hands. 

The new Pilot Type 20 Hommage à Louis Blériot and the Pilot Type 20 Squelette, powered by the famous 5011K pocket-watch calibre, immediately find their place in the haute horlogerie firmament, while Pilot Type 20 Extra Special or Extra Spécial bronze version displays the resolutely vintage spirit of the famous “Type 20” watches. 

The Pilot line pays homage to Zenith’s pioneering role in equipping the planes and dirigibles of aviation pioneers in the early 20th century, such as Louis Blériot who flew over the Channel in 1909 with his Zenith firmly strapped to his wrist; or Léon Morane who one year later became the first pilot ever to exceed the speed of 100 kmph. 


PILOT TYPE 20 HOMMAGE À LOUIS BLÉRIOT

Paying homage to the conquering spirit of Blériot, the new Pilot Type 20 Hommage à Louis Blériot is fitted with a meteorite dial and driven by the famous Calibre 5011K, entirely engraved with the memory of this fabulous saga. Crafted in a five-piece limited edition, the new watch is thus by nature a rare and coveted object, with its distinctive 60 mm-diameter case carved from a block of sapphire and topped by a bezel, lugs and large ratcheted crown in white gold and its deep grey meteorite dial, graced with a natural motif forming interlacing ribbons against a finely sandblasted background. 

This fragment of the Muonionalusta asteroid comes from a region located 140 km from the Arctic Circle. 

Beneath the imposing domed sapphire crystal, the display provided by characterised oversized Arabic numerals and stylised hands enhanced with a phosphorescent material ensures optimal read-off for all its functions. The powerful lines and singular design of the Pilot collection are set off to their best advantage by the spectacular sapphire case water-resistant to 30 m, and housing the entirely hand engraved Calibre 5011K, whose awards include the 1967 Neuchatel Observatory award for the most accurate chronometer ever presented. 

The transparent case-back reveals fascinating engraving work depicting Louis Blériot’s cross-Channel flight in 1909. Driving hours and minutes hands along with small seconds at 9 o’clock and a power-reserve indicator at 3 o’clock, Calibre 5011K operates at the rate of 18,000 vibrations per hour and enjoys 48 hours of autonomy.


PILOT TYPE 20 SQUELETTE 

In the new Pilot Type 20 Squelette, the Calibre 5011K has been skeletonised in order to reveal the exceptional mechanism. This construction is ‘airy’ in two key respects. On the one hand, its skeleton-working stems from a demanding and meticulous art performed using the historical bocfil (tiny hacksaw) technique that stems from a tradition of more than 200 years of workmanship. This extremely delicate task consists of engraving and hollowing out the movement by hand with a constant concern for perfect aesthetic and functionality. On the other hand, the nimble hands of skilled artisans create an aviation-inspired architectural motif featuring sleek lines evoking aircraft turbines or wings. Its finely curved lines are enhanced by fine sandblasting and hand-finished angles, all revealed through the transparency of the sapphire crystal dial and case-back. 

Topped by a blue enamel bezel, the 60 mm-diameter case carved in sapphire provides plenty of scope for an exceptional finish. Its gold bezel and lugs are hand engraved, forming a motif inspired by the fuselage of Blériot’s planes. The new watch has a broad ratcheted crown enabling easy adjustment with pilot’s gloves, as well as stylised hours and minutes hands sweeping over large impeccably legible numerals. The gold hands as well as the hollowed and blued Arabic numerals echo the blue enamel on the bezel, displaying the essential functions of the entirely skeleton-worked manual-winding Calibre 5011K. It is issued in a strictly limited five-piece edition.


PILOT TYPE 20 EXTRA SPECIAL

The Pilot Type 20 Extra Special is endowed with all the original attributes of a pilot’s watch: oversized luminescent Arabic numerals ensuring impeccable readability, as well as a large ratcheted screwed-in crown enabling adjustment with gloved hands. Enhanced by a domed sapphire crystal, its functions are distinctively displayed on a broad matt black dial framed by a minute track, while the Arabic numerals made from blocks of white Super-LumiNova and the faceted luminescent hands reinforce its vintage elegance and its optimal legibility. At the heart of the 45-mm bronze case that is water-resistant to 100 m beats the automatic Zenith Elite Calibre 679. Operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz), this manufacture-made movement has a 50-hour power reserve. The solid titanium case-back, bearing an etching of Blériot’s plane and adorned with the Zenith Flying Instruments logo, is a reminder of its legendary origins. A rubber-lined Nubuck strap fitted with a titanium pin buckle sets the final touch to this vintage-spirit timepiece made for adventurers with a thirst for wide horizons.