ZENITH’s unrivalled aviation heritage comes full circle: Alongside the first-ever Boutique Editions of the Pilot Automatic and Pilot Big Date Flyback with blue dials, ZENITH presents the first-ever thematic “ICONS: PILOT” capsule collection of three vintage Pilot watches that have been restored and certified by the Manufacture’s Heritage Department.
Relaunched in 2023 as a totally revamped line, the ZENITH Pilot collection draws inspiration from the entire span of aviation – past and present. A specialized and professional category of watches and instruments of which ZENITH has been a pioneer since the earliest days of aviation dating back to 1904, the essential codes of durability, legibility and intuitiveness are respected in the modern reincarnation of the Pilot collection. Instead of simply recreating the past, ZENITH has taken a much more contemporary design direction with subtle nods to the world of flying. And for the line’s first Boutique Edition, ZENITH is looking steadfast towards the sky to incorporate a deep shade of blue recalling the night sky.
Blue has long been ZENITH’s signature colour, recalling the night sky and the brightest shining star that inspired Georges-Favre Jacot to the point of deciding to name his manufacture and brand after it. Many of the brand’s boutique-exclusive editions have prominently featured different shades of blue. In the Pilot collection, the night sky holds a different meaning, reminding us of the bravery and sense of adventure the earliest pilots exuded when following their dreams to fly above the horizon.
The purest expression of ZENITH’s Pilot watch, the Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition is crafted in a 40mm stainless teel case with a distinct flat-top round bezel fixed on top of the rounded case, with vertically satin-brushed with polished chamfers. The oversized crown takes on an edgy angular form, while remaining easy to operate – even with gloves on.
The textured, grooved dial recalls the corrugated metal sheets that made up the fuselage of many older aircrafts. The oversized luminescent Arabic numerals are fashioned in a sleek font and are applied as metal markers filled with white Super-LumiNova. At 6 o’clock above the date window with a white on blue date wheel, the luminescent hour marker takes the form of a flat white line, recalling the artificial horizon instrument in plane. A source of pride for the Manufacture, the dial is signed “Pilot”, as ZENITH remains the first and only brand to hold the rights to mark its dials with the term.
The Pilot Automatic is powered by the El Primero 3620 high-frequency manufacture movement, visible through the display back. Its power reserve of 60 hours is reached by minds of a blackened oscillating weight that resembles an “artificial horizon” dashboard instrument, which informs the pilot of the aircraft’s orientation relative to the Earth’s horizon. The supplied blue cordura-effect rubber strap and brown calfskin strap can be easily interchanged using the strap’s quick-release system, requiring no tools.
The larger and more feature-packed of the two Pilot references, the Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition completes the line with an exceptional, aviation-oriented iteration of the latest generation El Primero automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre. Housed in a 42.5mm stainless steel case, it features two functions that are highly prized by aviators: the big date and the flyback function.
Beyond its easy readability, the oversized date display in the Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition features a next-gen patented compliant mechanism that advances and stabilizes both of the big date’s wheels in less than 0.03 seconds. The big date’s wheels are coloured in the same blue tone as the dial. Originally conceived for aviators who wore thick sheepskin gloves, the flyback function allows the chronograph function to be reset to zero and restarted by a single push of a button, simplifying the pilot’s operations and offering the possibility to record consecutive times without having to stop and restart.
The El Primero 3652 chronograph calibre with its “artificial horizon” rotor is visible through the display back. The Pilot Big Date Flyback comes on a blue cordura-effect rubber strap, with a brown calfskin strap provided. All the straps come with an integrated quick-release mechanism for easy swapping without tools.
The Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition and Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition are available exclusively from ZENITH physical and online boutiques around the globe.
Discover the Zenith collections with Cortina Watch online, visit us at our boutiques, or contact a sales representative today to learn more.
