Drawing its inspiration from the world of aviation, past and present, in 2023 we saw Zenith’s relaunch of their revitalised Pilot collection. As pioneers of aviation since 1904, Zenith’s watches have been proven time and time again to pass the tests of time. Oozing durability, strength and function above all, Zenith have supplied yet another specialised and professional catalogue of watches for watch connoisseurs to pore over. This isn’t a case of simply recreating the past though. Zenith have built on their many years of experience delivering high quality and presented a contemporary design choice with clever hints to their heritage and, naturally, their beloved world of flying. With the addition of these two Boutique Editions, Zenith’s unrivalled history comes full circle.
The first Boutique Edition sees Zenith looking towards the sky as they bedeck their 2023 launches with a stunning new shade of blue, reminiscent of the night sky. Long since a colour associated with the brand, blue has been a source of inspiration since the conception. Georges-Favre Jacot even named his brand, Zenith, in honour of the brightest shining star. The edition boasts a dazzling new take on their signature colour and this time aims to remind us of “the bravery and sense of adventure the earliest pilots exuded when following their dreams to fly above the horizon”.
Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition. Credit: Zenith
The Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition is the same size as its predecessor in a 40mm stainless steel case with a distinctive wide flat-top round bezel fixed atop the rounded case, with a combination of brushed and polished finishing. The grooved dial is said to recall the materials used in many older aircrafts and is yet another nod to the history of the company. The dial boasts oversized luminescent Arabic numerals manufactured with white Super-LumiNova to increase visibility on even the darkest of nights. As the first and only watchmakers to hold the rights to mark its dial with the term, watch fans will find that it is appropriately signed “Pilot”.
Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition. Credit: Zenith
The most feature packed of the two new editions is the Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition which arrives in a slightly larger 42.5mm case to properly frame its big date display. This, along with the flyback function, are notable as two functions that are highly valued by aviators. The big date’s wheels are coloured in the same sleek blue tone as the dial and most impressively they feature a mechanism that can advance and stabilize both wheels in less than 0.03 seconds.
Each watch is fitted with a blue Cordura-effect rubber strap and comes with an extra brown calfskin strap. Both of these straps have an integrated quick-release mechanism which ensures refreshing the look of the watches can be done easily without the use of tools.
Pilot Big Date Flyback Boutique Edition. Credit: Zenith
Technical Specifications:
Model: Zenith Pilot Automatic Boutique Edition
- Price: £6,700
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Movement: El Primero 3620 high-frequency
- Power reserve: Approx 60. hours
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Dial: Blue with horizontal grooves
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
- Size: 40mm wide
- Price: £10,1000
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Movement: El Primero 3652 automatic high-frequency
- Power reserve: Approx 60. hours
- Complications: Hours, minutes, seconds, date, chronograph
- Dial: Blue with horizontal grooves
- Water resistance: 10 ATM
- Size: 42.5mm wide
Zenith will also be making available an exclusive Pilot capsule collection. “ICONS: Pilot” is a collection of highly collectible vintage pieces featuring the TIPO CP-2 CAIRELLI, A3821 and 01.0230.415 models. Drawing from their archive of products from the late 1960s and 1970s, the capsule hopes to explore the professional and consumer side of Zenith Pilot watches from that era and give a larger context to the brands heritage and tradition of manufacturing high quality aviator watches.
More information regarding specifications, the capsule collection and purchasing can be found exclusively on Zenith’s online store or at their physical boutiques worldwide.
