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ZENITH PILOT
AUTOMATIC
CIRCA 1960
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Founded over a century ago at the dawn of the first air flights, Zenith's watchmaking heritage is unrivalled in the world of aviation. The brand created the very first "Pilot" watch, a term it patented in 1904, becoming the only watchmaker authorized to engrave "Pilot" on its dials.
In 1860, when the company was founded, Georges-Favre Jacot envisaged the future of watchmaking with Zenith, a new vertical approach to Swiss watchmaking.
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This young visionary dreams of creating the most precise watch ever known. He knew that to achieve this, he had to rethink the traditional way of making watches and bring together all the necessary talents and skills under one roof. This is the story of Georges-Favre Jacot and Zenith, pioneers of vertically integrated Swiss watchmaking.
The founder, Georges-Favre Jacot, was certainly a man ahead of his time. In 1888, he trademarked for "Pilote" and later "Pilot," as well as names in other fields that he deemed promising. Zenith remains to this day the only watch brand that can have "Pilot" on its dials.
This beautiful example is part of this heritage by bearing the "Pilot" brand.
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A beautiful Zenith watch, elegant, stylish and well proportioned. The silver dial, with very fine applied indexes, is remarkably simple.
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The dial features the iconic Zenith logo with the star in relief on this example.
The dial is marked "Zenith Automatic" on the upper part and the indication "Pilot" on the lower part. All this is original and this example has developed a nice patina over the last sixty years.
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The case is a chrome plated steel base, polished and brushed on the sides, with a stainless steel screw-in back. There is some wear on the case commensurate with age, but the whole thing is in great condition, very clean. The case back has the original part number, 9624687, and the waterproof indication. It is embossed on the inside with the typical logo of that era.
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The watch is powered by a Swiss-made automatic movement: the caliber 133.8. Its serial number 4999227 dates this watch to around 1960. It is a reliable and durable movement that was used in many Zenith watches of that time.
Overall, a beautiful and rare reference from the famous "Pilot" series. The general condition is very good, and the dial is really the part that makes this watch stand out.
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