WORLDTEMPUS - 7 March 2012
Elizabeth Doerr
“Zenith has a very long history of pilot's watches,” says the brand's energetic CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour. “Actually, Léon Morane, who was the first pilot in the world to exceed a speed of 100 km/h, already wore a Zenith watch in 1910. And at the beginning of the twentieth century, when air travel began, Zenith was among the first to produce aviation instruments.”
This explains why the brand is introducing such a range of aviation-styled wristwatches this year at Baselworld. The one bound to be the talk of the fair is the 57.5 mm polished titanium Montre d'Aéronef Type 20.
“Louis Blériot already owned a Zenith watch when crossing the English Channel in 1912 and we have a letter from him saying, 'I am very satisfied with the Zenith watch, which I usually use, and I cannot recommend it too highly to people who are looking for precision.' Today's Pilot Aéronef Type 20 is a C.O.S.C.-certified chronometer and contains the famous 5011 pocket watch caliber that was very successful for Zenith in the 1960s - and in 1967 was named the most accurate chronometer ever tested by the Neuchâtel Observatory. The same caliber has historically been used in marine chronometers and pocket watches and now for the first time as a wristwatch,” Dufour continues.
The modern rendition of this hand-wound 50 mm caliber is, of course, a reissue manufactured from original plans. Beating at 18,000 vph, it offers maximum stability and independent hacking seconds so that it can be synchronized with a time signal. The size of this striking wristwatch coupled with its vintage look is certain to attract some attention - but only for 250 lucky collectors since this watch only comes in a limited edition.
Historical continuity
“It was very important to me to construct continuity around the historical facts and wonderful stories that make an integral part of our brand,” Dufour continues. “This year we are launching three timepieces in this collection: the Pilot Aéronef Type 20, the Pilot Special Big Date and the Pilot Doublematic, a worldtimer chronograph with alarm function.”
The Pilot Doublematic is powered by automatic El Primero Caliber 4046. This 45 mm timepiece available in stainless steel or rose gold is a fairly complicated timekeeper: it includes a chronograph, world time, a large date, an alarm and a power reserve display for the alarm. Beating at the usual high frequency of 36,000 vph that the El Primero caliber offers, it boasts 50 hours of power reserve.
If you think this slew of pilot's watches is amazing, wait until you hear the final thing Dufour had to say. “The name 'Pilot' is patented by Zenith.” Will wonders never cease?
