Rare Zenith Pilot in Steel and “Crème Brûlée” Radium, circa 1945

Few houses can claim as long-standing a connection with aviation as Zenith: the “Pilote” trademark was registered as early as 1888, its English version “Pilot” in 1904 – at the very dawn of aviation – and the Le Locle house remains to this day the only one entitled to inscribe this word on its dials. In 1909, Louis Blériot crossed the Channel… with a Zenith on his wrist. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the civilian Pilot brought together every requirement of the tool watch, ahead of its time: a water-resistant steel case, anti-magnetic protection through a double case, a shock-absorbing system and a centre seconds hand.
The example we have the pleasure of offering stands out first and foremost for its dial: an extremely rare configuration, and a superb speckled patina in shades of caramel and crème brûlée, developed over eight decades – the original radium of the hour markers and “syringe” hands is incredibly well preserved. The 33 mm case is in keeping, down to the crisp, deep engravings on its screw-down caseback. The rare manually-wound movement, a Zenith 12.4.5.6 from the family of Zenith 12-ligne calibers, has been fully serviced by one of our watchmakers specialising in vintage calibers, and runs perfectly. We present this watch on a new bespoke Amplitude° strap in chocolate peccary leather, hand-stitched by our artisan, its shade echoing the orange patina of the radium. It comes with our Steel Warranty Card.
Civilian Zenith Pilots from the immediate post-war period very rarely appear on the market – and even more rarely in such original condition. Pilot’s watch enthusiasts and Zenith collectors alike will recognise it at once: this is a rare opportunity.

Few houses can claim as long-standing a connection with aviation as Zenith. When the Le Locle manufacture registered the “Pilote” trademark in 1888, no aeroplane had yet left the ground; its English version, “Pilot”, followed in 1904, when powered flight was barely in its infancy. The bet was visionary: in 1909, Louis Blériot crossed the Channel with, according to the house’s tradition, a Zenith on his wrist; from the First World War onwards, the manufacture’s onboard clocks equipped the cockpits of the British Royal Flying Corps, and from 1939, its Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 became the benchmark onboard instrument of French aviation. To this day, Zenith remains the only watchmaking house entitled to put the word “Pilot” on its dials.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Zenith brought this heritage to civilian wrists. The Pilot of those years met, decades before the term even existed, every requirement of the tool watch: a water-resistant stainless steel case, anti-magnetic protection through a double case – the mild-steel inner cup is still in place on our example – a shock-absorbing system and a centre seconds hand, invaluable for synchronising to the nearest second. The screw-down caseback, with its crisp, deep engravings, proudly proclaims it: “ZENITH PILOT – WATERPROOF ★ SHOCKPROOF – NON-MAGNETIC ★ STAINLESS STEEL”. After the 1950s, the house would turn away from pilot’s watches to devote itself to the El Primero adventure, and the Pilot line would not be reborn until 2009: vintage Pilots are all the more sought-after for it.

The manually-wound mechanical movement belongs to the family of Zenith post-war 12-ligne calibers, recognisable by its gilt bridges and the added bridge of its indirect centre seconds. Beating at 18,000 vibrations per hour and numbered 344xxxx, it has been fully overhauled by one of our watchmakers specialising in vintage calibers and runs within the strictest tolerances. An Extract from the Archives has been requested from Zenith; it will specify the exact dating of this example.

But it is the dial that sets this example apart. First, its layout is particularly attractive, and we have been unable to find this extremely rare configuration anywhere online. Second, over eight decades its cream surface has developed a superb speckled patina in shades of caramel and crème brûlée, warm and with unmistakable vintage charm – no two dials age the same way, and this one has aged beautifully. The Zenith star sits above the “Zenith Pilot” signature, over an alternation of baton hour markers and Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 o’clock, all filled with their original radium, incredibly well preserved. The “syringe” hands use the same material, now turned orange, while the blued steel centre seconds hand brings the whole to life. The 33 mm case, perfectly preserved, is in keeping.

We present this watch on a new bespoke Amplitude° strap in chocolate peccary leather, hand-stitched by our artisan, its shade echoing the orange patina of the radium. It is completed by a steel pin buckle. The watch comes with our Steel Warranty Card.

Civilian Zenith Pilots from the immediate post-war period very rarely appear on the market – and even more rarely in such original condition. Pilot’s watch enthusiasts and Zenith collectors alike will recognise it at once: this is a rare opportunity.

This rare Zenith Pilot is preserved in exceptional condition.
The steel case with its rounded lugs is ideal. The engravings on the caseback, including the case serial number, remain extremely deep and crisp.
The dial is both incredibly well preserved (no scratches, no missing radium on the hour markers or hands) and has developed a “crème brûlée” patina that we find particularly attractive and balanced.
The manually-wound mechanical movement has undergone a full overhaul by one of our watchmakers specialising in vintage calibers and runs within the strictest tolerances.
The hand-stitched Amplitude° strap in chocolate peccary leather is new, as is the steel pin buckle.
A remarkable example, first for its configuration and, beyond that, for its state of preservation.

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