The dream of taking on the open skies. The pursuit of liberty to rise above and gain a new perspective. The sky is yours, and it’s calling to reach your star. ZENITH’s fascination with the world of aviation goes as far back as the late 19th century, when the Manufacture’s founder Georges Favre-Jacot believed that mankind was on the verge of finally conquering the skies – and that ZENITH should be there alongside the brave pioneers who saw a world of freedom and infinite possibilities far above the horizon. In 1888, ZENITH filed a trademark for the French term “Pilote”, followed by the English version “Pilot” in 1904. In the years that followed, ZENITH would become one of the preeminent makers of specialized watches and dashboard instruments for pilots. Among the most notable of its countless adopters was Louis Blériot, who made history by making the first flight across the English Channel in 1909. Today, ZENITH continues to uphold and build upon this unparalleled heritage with the latest generation of the PILOT collection.

Taking on many forms over the years in a balancing act between heritage and modernism, the ZENITH PILOT collection is the Manufacture’s most long-standing line, and one that never ceases to beguile seasoned watch aficionados as well as avid aviation enthusiasts. The latest chapter caters to the pilot spirit in each of us, seeking the freedom to dream and the space to constantly rise above our limits and the world around us.

Entirely redesigned from scratch, the all-new PILOT collection foregoes the vintage aesthetic for something that draws inspiration from the entire span of aviation – past and present. It is imbued with all the essential features of durability, legibility and intuitiveness, respecting the codes of PILOT watches that ZENITH largely defined over a century ago with some of the earliest recorded aviator clocks and dashboard instruments, now revisited in a more contemporary context with some added ZENITH flair and understated nods to the world of aviation.

PILOT Automatic

The template for the new generation of ZENITH PILOT watches, the PILOT Automatic revisits the collection’s aesthetic codes in an outstanding silhouette full of subtle details. Crafted in a 40mm case in either stainless steel or black ceramic, the PILOT Automatic features an entirely new case design with a distinct flat-top round bezel fixed on top of the rounded case. In the steel version, the surfaces are vertically satin-brushed with polished chamfers, while the black ceramic version is entirely microblasted for a stealthy matte finish. The oversized crown, a defining feature of Pilot watches, takes on a more modern, angular form, while remaining easy to operate – even with gloves on.

PILOT Big Date Flyback

The ZENITH PILOT collection simply wouldn’t be complete without a chronograph reference. And for this latest iteration, ZENITH has gone a step further by developing a new version of its El Primero 3600 calibre, with a host of new functions that have been specifically conceived for the PILOT.