A year after revamping Pilot collection with fresh-faced aesthetics, Zenith releases a pair of boutique editions – the Pilot Automatic and Pilot Big Date Flyback. Both feature blue dials with a linear horizontal pattern inspired by stamped aluminium body panels of vintage aircraft.

Initial thoughts

Zenith is best known for El Primero of 1969, a high-frequency chronograph calibre now in its second generation, which is the movement found in both new Pilot models, although the former is not a chronograph. Both, however, share the same design that defines the current Pilot line-up.

Unveiled last year, the Pilot has a friendlier, more modern face than most aviator’s watches that tend to be military-inspired. It has all of the hallmarks of a pilot’s watch, including large Arabic numerals and legibility, but manages to look distinct from all the other pilot’s watches on the market. Although blue is hardly a novel colour, the new patterned dials adds to the contemporary look, being even less military-esque than last year’s models in conventional black.

The Pilot Automatic retails for US$7,500, while the Pilot Big Date Flyback retails for US$11,500. The time-and-date automatic is relatively pricey for a simple watch, although the high-beat, in-house movement helps justify the price somewhat.

On the other hand, the chronograph is competitive against similar watches from rival brands, particularly since the calibre inside is the latest generation of the El Primero. Moreover, the chronograph has the unusual combination of a flyback function and big date, both of which are simple but practical complications.

A clean palette

Zenith was one of the earliest makers of aviator’s watches, with its first pilot’s watches dating to the first decades of the 20th century. The modern-day Pilot, however, is a contemporary design characterised by clean lines and minimal frills.

Both new Pilot models retain the same design of their respective predecessors, but with the patterned dials now in a deep blue that contrasts well against the stark white numerals and hands. The dials are essentially two tone – white and blue – for easy legibility. The oversized Arabic numerals are applied and filled with white Super-Luminova, while the date discs matched to the dial.

The cases remain the same, with a flat-topped bezel on an almost-tonneau case with prominent lugs. The surfaces are satin-brushed with polished chamfers that give the case a bit more refinement. And as is typical for a pilot’s watch, the crown is oversized to enable operation with flight gloves. The shape of the crown also takes reference from the “onion” crowns found on early Zenith pilot’s watches.

Both models are powered by variants of the same self-winding El Primero calibre, the El Primero 3620 SC in the Pilot Automatic and El Primero 3652 in the chronograph. The two movements offer 60 hours of power reserve and beat at a run frequency of 36,000 beats per hour. And in a nod to the aviation theme, the two calibres are fitted with a “artificial horizon” rotor that is inspired by the display in a cockpit.

The El Primero 3652 in the chronograph is notable for the oversized date display that features a patented compliant mechanism that advances both date wheels near instantaneously, in less than 0.03 seconds according to Zenith.

And it also features a flyback function, which is historically associated with aviator’s chronograph. This allows the chronograph to be reset to zero and restarted with a single push of the start button, offering the possibility to record consecutive times without having to stop and restart the chronograph, making it useful for timing sequential flight segments.

The El Primero 3652

Key facts and price

Zenith Pilot Automatic
Ref. 03.4000.3620/51.I003

Diameter: 40 mm
Height: Unavailable
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: El Primero 3620 SC
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date
Frequency: 36,000 beats per hour (5 Hz)
Winding: Automatic
Power reserve: 60 hours

Strap: Blue “Cordura” effect rubber and brown calfskin leather

Limited edition: No
Availability: Only at Zenith boutiques and Zenith-watches.com
Price: US$8,800

Key facts and price

Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback
Ref. 03.4000.3652/51.I003

Diameter: 42.5 mm
Height: Unavailable
Material: Stainless steel
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: El Primero 3652
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date and chronograph
Frequency: 36,000 beats per hour (5 Hz)
Winding: Self-winding
Power reserve: 60 hours

Strap: Blue “Cordura” effect rubber and brown calfskin leather

Limited edition: No
Availability: Only at Zenith boutiques and Zenith-watches.com
Price: US$13,450 (excluding taxes)

For more information, visit Zenith-watches.com.