2013 will see a number of additions to the Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 watch collection that started last year with mega 57.5mm wide Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 that included a rather amazing recreation of a competition movement. Never intended as a serious collection, the popularity of the Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 likely spurred enough noise that Zenith CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour decided to expand on the range. This new Zenith Pilot model is the most appreciated Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 Annual Calendar, and includes the name Zenith El Primero caliber 4054 automatic movement produced in conjunction with maker designer Ludwig Oeschlin. This movement originally debuted in the Zenith Captain Winsor watch.

From classy now to sporty, the chronograph with annual calendar in the El Primero 4054 finds itself a good home in the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 Annual Calendar. The timepieces will sport 48mm wide cases in that beautiful old pilot watch style based on an original vintage Zenith pilot watch and airplane instrument clock design. We were able to get a sneak peak at the new Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 watches for 2013 back in January and they look fantastic. While at almost 60mm wide the original was tough to stomach on the wrist for long periods of time. The new more reasonable sizes make sense and the design of the cases and dials is fantastic. This year Zenith will offer the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 Annual Calendar in both steel and 18k rose gold.

Legibility and comfort (assuming you like large watches) are the key elements of the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 collection. The dial design is taken from the Zenith Type 20 cockpit clock dial, and is slathered with lume matched to perfectly sized hands on these watches. While we love the modern Zenith Stratos collection of sport watches, the Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 range offers a very appealing retro aviation style sport watch as an alternative. Gotta love that giant onion-style crown as well. We will be back later with a hands-on look after meeting with Zenith at Basel. So are the new Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 Annual Calendar Watches up your alley? Price is 9,900 Swiss Francs in steel and 21,000 Swiss Francs in titanium/18k rose gold. zenith-watches.com

Tech specs from Zenith:

PILOT MONTRE D’AÉRONEF TYPE 20 ANNUAL CALENDAR
• TRIBUTE TO ZENITH’S AVIATION HISTORY
• NEW 48 MM CASE DIAMETER
• AUTOMATIC EL PRIMERO ANNUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH
• ARABIC NUMERALS ENTIRELY MADE OF SUPERLUMINOVA
• ZENITH FLYING INSTRUMENTS LOGO ON CASE-BACKS

MOVEMENT
El Primero 4054, automatic
Calibre: 13¼ “` (Diameter: 30 mm)
Thickness: 8.30 mm
Components: 341
Jewels: 29
Frequency: 36,000 VpH – (5 Hz)
Power-reserve: min. 50 hours
Finishings: Oscillating weight with “Côtes de Genève” pattern.

FUNCTIONS
Hours and minutes in the centre
Small seconds at 9 o’clock
1-counter chronograph:
-Central chronograph hand
-60-minute counter at 6 o’clock
Day and month at 3 o’clock
Date indicator at 6 o’clock

CASE, DIAL & HANDS
Material: Titanium case, 18-carat rose gold bezel, lugs, pushers and crown or stainless steel case
Diameter: 48 mm
Diameter opening: 40 mm
Thickness: 15.80 mm
Crystal: Box-shaped sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment on both sides
Case-back: Zenith Flying Instruments logo
Water-resistance: 10 ATM
Dial: Matt black
Hour-markers: SuperLuminova SLN C1
Hands: Gold-plated rhodium, satin-brushed or black ruthenium

REFERENCES
87.2430.4054/21.C721
Brown alligator leather strap with beige stitching and titanium pin buckle
03.2430.4054/21.C721
Brown alligator leather strap with beige stitching and stainless steel pin buckle