Zenith - Pilot - Unisex - 2010-2020

Most “pilot” watches, for historical reasons, have cases whose diameter often exceeds 45mm. The Zenith Pilot Montre d'Aéronef Type 20 goes against this trend by offering a 40mm steel case... An ideal model?

The little story

The Zenith Pilot collection is a series of aviator watches, created more than a century ago. The Manufacture possesses an unparalleled horological heritage in the world of aviation; indeed it is the only watchmaking House authorized to inscribe “PILOT” on these dials, a term it patented in 1904. The archetype of the aviator watch was created by La Manufacture du Locle at the dawn of the first flights. Indeed, a pioneer as always, Zenith was from the early 20th century one of the first houses to manufacture flight instruments to equip the airplanes and airships of aviation’s pioneers. Of all audacities and technical feats, the manufacture thus became the indispensable accomplice of the adventurers of the sky who reached what then appeared as inaccessible stars. This is how Louis Blériot crossed the Channel in 1909, Zenith firmly strapped to his wrist, just as Léon Morane, who a year later became the first pilot in history to exceed 100 km/h.

The notion of the “Montre d’Aéronef Type 20”

“Montre d’aéronef” is a name full of meaning. These onboard instruments were specifically developed for aviation, a field where operating conditions remained considerably more demanding, testing the mechanics to the limit. They had to withstand sudden temperature changes, magnetic fields emitted by engines and other flight instruments, sometimes violent vibrations, humidity, and changes in atmospheric pressure. Readability also had to be impeccable: a wide matte black dial offered the best possible contrast to the hands and hour markers, all clad in luminescent white. The latter, in the characteristic Arabic numerals, also adopted an oversized font. For wristwatches, to facilitate handling, they were equipped with a very particular crown, allowing the pilot to wind and set the time without taking off his gloves.

All these requirements appeared in a specification drawn up in the mid-1930s and which evolved over time, following aeronautical technology. By 1938, these specifications had been named “Type 20.” These professional watches, survival tools, were regularly serviced and maintained. In France, for example, they were delivered to the French Air Force, the French Navy’s aviation branch (Aéronavale), and the Flight Test Center. Even today, the Type 20–listed instruments, produced at the time by a handful of manufacturers carefully selected, sit in the Pantheon of flight instruments.

The model

Most “pilot” watches have, for historical reasons, cases with diameters often well above 45mm. The model we present you today in this 10h10 episode, the Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 (reference 03.1930.681/21.C723), goes against this trend by offering a 40mm steel case. The restrained dimensions make this watch attractive to a wide audience. This watch thus combines the magic of a piece steeped in history with a “vintage” size. It is a unisex model that embodies all the codes of the aviator watch as seen within the “Aéronef” brief.

Fun detail: the case reveals on its side the HB inscription, typical of Swiss aviation registrations, followed by a number referring to the piece’s serial number.

Finally, beneath this 100-meter water-resistant composition beats the Elite 681 Manufacture automatic caliber, showcasing a small seconds at 9 o’clock.

The watch is in excellent condition.

The Invis leather strap is new and practical: it contains an Fidesmo-compatible chip for contactless payment. The buckle is original Zenith.

Happy bidding.