Zenith Pilot automatic El Primero black dial cordura strap 40 mm

PILOT collection takes flight

Dreaming of conquering the sky. Pursuing freedom to gain height and discover a new perspective. The sky is yours: it invites you to reach for your star. ZENITH's fascination with the world of aviation dates back to the end of the 19th century, when the company's founder, Georges Favre-Jacot believed that man was finally on the verge of conquering the sky - and that ZENITH should stand with the brave pioneers who perceived a space of freedom and infinite possibilities, far beyond the horizon. ZENITH registered the French name "Pilote" in 1888, and its English equivalent "Pilot" in 1904. In the following years, ZENITH would become one of the leading manufacturers of watches and instruments for pilots. Among the most famous of its many enthusiasts was Louis Blériot, who made history by making the first flight across the English Channel in 1909. Today, ZENITH continues to nurture and develop his unparalleled legacy, through the latest generation Pilot collection.

Representing the balance between heritage and modernity in many forms over the years, the ZENITH Pilot collection, the Manufacture's longest-running line, has never ceased to appeal to seasoned watch lovers and aviation enthusiasts. The final chapter calls out to the pilot in all of us, seeking the freedom to dream and a space to always go beyond our limits and surrounding world.

A completely redesigned, the all-new Pilot collection eschews vintage styling to represent the entire world of aviation - its past and present. It has all the essential qualities required, durability, legibility and ease of use, in keeping with the Pilot codes largely defined by ZENITH more than a century ago, via some of the first aviator clocks and flight instruments in history. Today, it revisits them in a more contemporary way, with a more pronounced ZENITH style and discreet nods to the world of aviation.

PILOT Automatic: The pilot's watch of the 12th century

A milestone in the new generation of ZENITH Pilot watches, the Pilot Automatic reinterprets the collection's codes through a remarkable silhouette, rich in subtleties. The 40 mm steel case, sports a completely new design, with a distinctly flat round bezel, set on a body with softened lines, and vertical satin-finished surfaces are highlighted by polished chamfers. The oversized crown, typical of Pilot watches, adopts a more modern angular shape, while remaining easy to use, even with gloves on.

The black opaline dial with horizontal grooves recalls the look of the corrugated metal sheets that make up the fuselage of many vintage aircraft. The oversized luminescent Arabic numerals, a signature of ZENITH pilot's watches and flight instruments since the early 1900s, adopt a more modern font: set in appliques, they are filled with white Super-LumiNova. At 6 o'clock, above the date window, the luminescent index takes the form of a white line, reminiscent of the instrument known as the artificial horizon of an aircraft. This allows the wearer to see the orientation of the watch instantly and read the time without hesitation. The dial is signed "Pilot" because the ZENITH brand, a pioneer in the field, remains the only one to hold the right to inscribe this term on its dials.

A three-hand El Primero caliber

Through the Pilot Automatic's sapphire caseback, one can admire the El Primero 3620 high-frequency manufacture movement, which has a 60-hour power reserve. The openworked, blackened oscillating weight is reminiscent of an "artificial horizon," a typical and essential on-board instrument that gives the pilot the inclination of the aircraft in relation to the earth's horizon.

Many bracelets for many styles

The bracelets provided are perfectly suited to the respective styles of this Pilot Automatic. This steel model has a black Cordura-effect rubber strap and the second one is made of brown calf leather, reminiscent of the typical aviator gear of the past, the jacket, gloves and cap. The bracelets are easily interchangeable thanks to the quick-change mechanism, built into their reverse side, which allows the spring bars to be removed without the use of a tool.