Zenith is one of the few brands to manufacture watches in the style of the early pilots, with real historic prototypes as the basis for their new models. The original timepiece made for Louis Blériot in 1909 laid the groundwork for the pilot’s watch, with its cathedral hands, large, thick numerals and a crown big enough to fit flying gloves. Now, in addition to the larger Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special, this timepiece is now also available in a 40mm version, which is 12.95mm thick and fits all wrists, most importantly women’s wrists.
Strap colors add an extra layer of femininity in mustard, khaki, blue or burgundy, and the corresponding dial, slate grey, khaki, blue or burgundy. The vintage stainless steel case and caseback, grained-finish dial and large fluted crown retain the vintage spirit. The watch becomes a practical everyday timepiece with excellent water resistance to 100 meters and good low-light visibility entirely provided by SuperLuminova numbers. The strap is in leather or oily nubuck with a protective rubber lining and a titanium pin buckle. The overall effect is warm, even hygge.
Inside, there is an in-house movement, the Zenith Elite 679 self-winding movement, which provides a 50-hour power reserve. It has 126 components and vibrates 28,800 times per hour at a frequency of 4 Hz.
Reference models for the Zenith Pilot Type 20 Extra Special 40 mm are:
The official watch of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
Remodeled for 2021, the IWC Pilot chronograph with a reduced case from 43mm to 41mm is an enduring bestseller and is now easier to wear. The watchmaker has now created an online-only version of its F1 Partner Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula 1 Team Edition”.
Designed to celebrate the inaugural Miami Grand Prix, this new chronograph is the first official team watch, meaning it will be worn by all team members, from mechanics to strategists. It naturally wears the team’s signature colour, the green of title sponsor Petronas.
The overall design of the new chronograph is almost the same as the standard model, only the colors are different. But there are also some new additions to show up close, including a sandblasted titanium case that sets it apart from IWC’s current offering.
The case material is eye-catching—no other pilot chronograph has a sandblasted titanium case—and it’s a smart choice for a “meter” watch. It makes the F1 Team Edition lighter than its counterparts in the Pilot’s Watch collection, with a matte, grained finish that complements the watch’s functional spirit. The metal also makes sense given the Formula 1 situation, as titanium is widely used in automotive engineering due to its corrosion resistance and high strength-to-density ratio.
But it is the mint green that makes this watch truly unique. The green livery will appeal to fans of the racing team, and more broadly, its resemblance to the currently trendy Tiffany blue is certainly a plus.
Conceptually, the collaboration isn’t surprising given that the two brands have been partners for years. In fact, IWC fake and Mercedes-AMG (the automaker and not the F1 team) started working together in 2004. A chronograph is also the most appropriate complication for racing teams. That said, there’s a disconnect between the idea of a pilot’s watch and the official timepiece for the Formula 1 team.
At $7,850, this F1 team watch is less than 10 percent more than a regular production Pilot’s 41 stainless steel chronograph—a modest premium, especially given the case material, and well worth it. This new release nicely implements the historic partnership.
Racing livery
The same green color was chosen for the hour markers, hour markers and lettering, creating a captivating and unique aesthetic while still retaining the classic look of IWC’s iconic pilot’s chronograph.
The watch is basically a classic pilot chronograph, so the case remains the same size. It’s fairly thick, though it’s nearly a millimeter thinner than its 43mm predecessor. While the 41mm size is still huge, it’s more wear-resistant than the 43mm version. What’s more, the titanium case makes it more wear-resistant because it’s lighter than a steel case. price luxury watch
The movement inside is cal. 69385, the same movement as the standard pilot’s chronograph. cal launches in 2021. The 69385 is part of the 69000 series of movements. Like most IWC movements, the 69000 is designed to be robust and functional, with an industrial aesthetic at the same time.
Conceived to replace calibration. 79320 – Based on Valjoux 7750 – 69000 Designed to be an upgraded replacement of similar dimensions but with features like a column wheel and Pellaton winding mechanism.
IWC Pilot’s Watch Chronograph 41 Edition “Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team” Ref. IW388108
Diameter: 41 mm
Height: 14.6 mm
Material: Titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m
Movement: Carl. 69385
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds, day, date and chronograph
Frequency: 28,800 beats/hour (4 Hz)
Chain: Automatic winding:
Power reserve: 46 hours
Strap: Green rubber strap with rubber pin buckle, additional embossed black calfskin strap
