Haute Watch of the Week: Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 Tourbillon

Adding a tourbillon to the Pilot Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 in no way detracts from the model’s aviator-watch aesthetic; rather, it enhances it. The onion crown, super-large, highly luminated hands and numerals (actually made of super-LumiNova), extra row of stitching along the strap attachment all identify this as a pilot’s watch.

See more Zenith watches at Haute Time.

The tourbillon is the perfect complement to this functional aesthetic. With a seconds hand attached to the cage and an additional index around the carriage perimeter to indicate the date, the tourbillon is a focus of functionality. The tourbillon carriage occupies the 10 o’clock position rather than the traditional 6 o’clock position, a position that causes it to emerge from under the shirt cuff first. (A good reason for wearing a tourbillon is to show it off as much as possible.)

Crafted in titanium and rose gold, the watch is powered by the automatic El Primero 4035 D chronograph caliber.

The oversized numerals make the watch look bigger than it is, but the case is a classic 40mm size, whereas many of the brand’s Pilot Montre d’Aéronef models are 48mm.

For the latest haute horlogerie news and the most exciting new watches check out Haute Time.

Photos courtesy Zenith.