This year, in line with the 110th anniversary of Blériot’s historic flight, Zenith is releasing the Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Silver in a 250-piece limited edition. The large 45mm timepiece harks back to classic aviation watchmaking styles with its racheted crown, an oversized case and a handstitched calf leather strap.
Zenith's Pilot Type 20 Extra Special Silver has a dial design that reminds one of classic plane construction.
The watch is made in a 925 silver case, which in layman’s terms, means it’s 92.5% silver material. Silver was once a precious material used in watchmaking, but it’s rare to find today due to its qualities of being relatively soft and over time, ageing to develop a patina. However, given today’s preferences and interests for aged/vintaged watch looks, the brand has returned to silver for this one-off special edition. (It’s also necessary to note that this is the first Zenith watch in a silver case ever produced.)
The dial itself is also a throwback to vintage aviation, with a brushed dial in silver that has riveted stamping pattern. It reminds one of the vintage planes with their industrial, exposed rivet construction in aluminium sheets. Other Pilot watch elements are consistent with Zenith’s design, such as oversized Arabic numerals filled with Super-Luminova and large hands to indicate the time.
Rivets line the wing of a WWII bomber aircraft. Image from the Plane Perfect Blog