Hands on the Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20

This is without doubt the most impressing watch of the year 2012. With a case diameter of 57,5 mm the Type 20 not only impresses by it´s size, but also by it´s remarkable calibre and it´s huge balance wheel.

When last January in Geneva Jean-Fred Dufour, the CEO of Zenith, the first time showed me his new Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 I simply did not know what to say. This watch was just breathtaking! No one had expected such a magnificent timepiece from Zenith. Jean-Fred told me: “This watch dabbles in excess. Like the skies that beg to be conquered, it chooses to anchor time in a large space, confidently letting the hours tick away. The 57.5 mm-diameter case, made of titanium to offset the weight of the movement it contains, has the qualities of an instrument that was born to fly.”

Taking a closer look I discovered more and more fascinating details. Especially the huge balance wheel, oscillating at very relaxed 18.000 vph, seemed to me to be the ultimate antitode to the 28.800 vph and 36.000 vph normally used by Zenith in their other watches.

I have filmed the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 with a macro lens in two angels, one film (video 2) more close on the balance wheel and one with a better view on the entire calibre (video 1). What you will undoubtedly hear when watching the two videos is the Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 relaxed heartbeat. A sound like of a good old V8-big block-engine, very relaxed and powerful. Enjoy!

The photographs I made show the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 from different angels and they show the enormous size of the watch. Enjoy!

Just to get you in the right mood here are some information and the technical data´s of the amazing Zenith:

The transparent caseback reveals the mechanical hand-wound movement. Its 50 mm diameter leaves room for exceptional finishes, such as 19 jewels and the broad linear Côtes de Genève that grace the rhodium-plated bridges. This by the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) certified chronometer comes with a pedigree to match its beauty: it contains the famous 5011 pocket calibre that was so successful for Zenith in the 1960s. In 1967 it was named the most accurate chronometer ever tested by the Neuchatel Observatory! The calibre has been in continuous production since then and has been used in competition timepieces, marine chronometers, pocket watches, and watchmaking school watches.

Reference:

95.2420.5011/21.C723

250-piece limited series

Movement:

Calibre 5011K, hand-wound

Total diameter 50 mm

Thickness 10 mm

134 parts

19 jewels

Cadence of the balance 18,000 vph

48-hour power reserve

Chronometer-certified by the COSC

Functions:

Central hours and minutes

Small seconds at 9 o’clock

Power-reserve indication at 3 o’clock

Case:

Polished and satin-brushed grade 5 titanium Diameter 57.5 mm

Water resistance 3 ATM

Sapphire crystal caseback

Dial:

Matt black with Superluminova-enhanced hands and numerals

Strap:

Calfskin with hand-sewn topstitching, titanium pin buckle

>> Video 1 (play loud!):

>> Video 2 (play loud!):

To enlarge the photos to full size please click on them and then once again  …