A Zenith Pilot Watch History
Zenith Pilot Montre D’Aeronef Type 20 GMT Red Baron / Credit: aBlogtoWatch
With its deep connection to aviation, particularly cockpit clocks and pilot watches, Zenith established itself as a leader in the watch market since the early 20th century. Their aviation heritage goes back farther than Louis Blériot, and their pilot watches were commissioned by militaries around the world, particularly during the World Wars. More recently, at Baselworld 2013, Zenith unveiled the Zenith Pilot Montre D’Aeronef Type 20 GMT Red Baron, a limited edition of 500 pieces dedicated to Manfred von Richthofen, a.k.a. the Red Baron.
Originally a cavalryman, the Red Baron became the ace-of-aces of the First World War fighting for the Germans. He was a prolific fighter pilot, accredited with 80 air combat victories before getting shot down and killed at the Battle of Somme in 1918. About a decade earlier, Zenith was already making a name for itself through its pilot watches, often recognizable by their oversized crowns. The previously mentioned Louis Blériot wore a Zenith wristwatch for his famous flight across the English Channel in 1909, and even wrote to Zenith afterwards to commend them on their excellent work. Withal, the watch that inspired the Red Baron limited edition was not a wristwatch but a cockpit clock: the Zenith Pilot Montre D’Aéronef Type 20.
The Zenith Type 20 emerged in 1939, at the advent of the Second World War, and made primarily for the French Air Force; designed specifically for combat situations. Pilots needed clocks not only to check the amount of fuel they had left, but also for timing different combat formations; hence the large Arabic numerals, the distinctive hands, and the clearly marked bezel; for quick, easy reading. Zenith continued making pilot watches after the war, but only until the early 1960s, whereafter the only pilot watch produced was the A. Carelli Roma.
People often focus on Zenith’s developments post-El Primero, forgetting just how crucial their timepieces were to the aviation industry. The Red Baron however, is recognition by Zenith that they haven't and won't forget where they come from.