Zenith Pilot: Our Top 7 Picks for Adventurers
Founded by George Favre-Jacot in 1865 in Le Locle, Switzerland, Zenith combines rich watchmaking traditions with avant-garde innovations.
One of Zenith’s most iconic watches is the Zenith Pilot, introduced in 1909. In fact, when the famous French aviator Louis Blériot became the first man to fly across the English Channel, he was wearing a Zenith Pilot watch. This marked Zenith’s long and rich history as one of the best manufacturers of pilot watches in the world.
The first Zenith Pilot watch that Blériot had was in a chrome-plated case. It featured a black enamel dial with large Arabic numerals and fixed lugs.
Today, Zenith continues to offer an array of Pilot watches created for active outdoorsmen. Whether you’re gallivanting in the skies or racing on land, the Zenith Pilot watch has everything an avid adventurer needs in a watch.
Here are seven of the most coveted and ruggedly handsome Zenith Pilot watches in the market today.
Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special
The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special is Zenith’s ode to vintage aviation. Its 45mm silver case features a metal-welding-inspired dial with a ‘bolted’ design. Additional features include white hour, minute, and second luminescent hands. Meanwhile, Arabic numeral markers loom big and proud against the silver dial.
Powered by the Zenith Elite Automatic 679 movement, this watch boasts a power reserve of 50 hours. Its onion-like silver crown complements the silver case and a brown calfskin leather strap with pure silver buckle adds flourish to its magnificent design.
Zenith Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Extra Special
At 45mm, the Zenith Pilot type 20 Chronograph Extra Special features a bronze case, matte black dial, and a green leather strap. A ruggedly handsome watch for the adventure-seeker, this timepiece epitomises outdoor spirit.
Running on the El Primero 4069 automatic Calibre movement, this watch has a 50-hour power reserve and chronograph functions. The two sub-dials display a 30-minute chronograph counter at 3 o’clock and small seconds at 9 o’clock. Big hours, minutes, and seconds hands, as well as Arabic numeral markers, blend well with the sub-dials.
Water-resistant up to 100 metres, this watch is perfect for a weekend adventure. So, feel free to take it white-water rafting or trekking in the woods!
Zenith Pilot Cronometro CP-2 Flyback Bronze
With a flyback chronograph function, the Zenith Pilot Cronometro CP-2 Flyback looks every inch a gentleman’s watch in its 43mm bronze case and brown oily nubuck leather strap. The slate brown-greenish grained dial displays the sub-dials for the chronograph function. Besides that, the bronze crown and pushers perfectly match the bezel and the case.
At this watch’s heart beats a powerful Zenith El Primero 405B calibre movement, thereby giving the chronograph watch a 50-hour power reserve. Waterproof up to 100 metres, this watch is perfectly safe to be taken on a jet ski ride or water skiing.
Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Chronograph Bronze
With a 45mm bronze case and blue oily nubuck leather strap, the Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Chronograph will amaze you at first glance. Look closely and fall for its mechanics even more.
Featuring an El Primero 4069 automatic calibre movement, this watch boasts a chronograph function and a power reserve of 50 hours. It also features SuperLuminova hands and indexes and water resistance of 100 metres. With two sub-dials for the chronograph functions and big Arabic numeral hour markers, the matte blue dial perfectly complements the blue leather strap.
Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Aged Stainless Steel
Taking inspiration from the iconic Zenith aviation watches, this Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special charms in a 40mm aged stainless steel case. Its SuperLuminova Arabic numerals and hands are visible against the slate grey-grained dial.
The Zenith Elite Calibre 679 automatic movement drives this sporty watch, giving it a power reserve of 50 hours. Its mustard oily nubuck leather strap also perfectly complements its vintage-looking case and bezel. Take it for a spin when you do your favourite water sports. After all, it is water-resistant up to 100 metres.
Zenith Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Flyback Aged Stainless Steel
Looking dignified in its all-black design, this Zenith Pilot Cronometro Tipo CP-2 Flyback features a 43mm aged stainless steel case, black bezel, slate black grained dial, and a black oily nubuck leather strap.
Displayed on its black dial are two sub-dials with a 30-minute chronograph function at the 3 o’clock mark and a small seconds at 9 o’clock. In addition, a Zenith El Primero 405B calibre movement powers this flyback chronograph. What’s more, it boasts a 50-hour power reserve and water resistance of up to 100 metres.
Zenith Pilot Cronometro TipoCP-2
The Zenith Pilot Cronometro TipoCP-2 (which has only 1,000 pieces produced) features a 43mm stainless steel case, a black dial, and a black calfskin strap with rubber lining as well as a Zenith folding clasp. The black dial includes SuperLuminova hands and Arabic numeral hour markers, as well as two sub-dials for chronograph functions. Additionally, a black bezel matches the dial and the strap to make for a sophisticated all-black ensemble.
At this watch’s heart beats a Zenith El Primero 4069 calibre movement, giving it a robust 50 hours of power reserve. As an ode to the Zenith Cairelli Chronograph, this watch highlights the brand’s expertise in modern technology with vintage aesthetics.
Interested in pilot watches from another Swiss luxury watch brand? Check out our feature on IWC Pilot watches here.
