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895

Zenith

Ref. 96.2438.693/23.C721

Montre d'Aéronef Type 20 GMT

A rare, large and attractive limited edition dual-time DLC-coated titanium wristwatch with Eastern Arabic numerals, small seconds, warranty and presentation box, numbered 24 of a limited edition of 50 pieces

Estimate
HK$15,000 - 30,000
€1,900 - 3,800
$1,900 - 3,800
HK$88,200
Lot Details
Manufacturer
Zenith
Year
Circa 2016
Reference No
96.2438.693/23.C721
Movement No
480’198
Case No
327’548, 24/50
Model Name
Montre d'Aéronef Type 20 GMT
Material
DLC-coated Titanium
Calibre
Automatic, cal. Elite 693, 26 jewels
Bracelet/Strap
Leather
Clasp/Buckle
Stainless steel Zenith pin buckle
Dimensions
48mm diameter
Signed
Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories
Accompanied by Zenith warranty stamped by retailer Watch Town dated 2016, leather wallet, instruction manual, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
A vibrant tribute to the free-flying spirit of the airborne pioneers, the Pilot Montre d'Aéronef Type 20 echoes the finest hours in the early 20th century conquest of the skies. Inspired by the legendary Zenith aviation watches that dates back to its genesis in 1909, it is the year when French aviator Louis Blériot became the first person to fly across the English Channel, and on his wrist was a Zenith timepiece. Taking design codes from its heritage with the oversized 48mm case as well as the onion shaped winding crown, the model is treated with a DLC coating on titanium with modernized durability and weight. The present Heritage Pilot Type 20 GMT belongs to a rarer breed where it was made in a limited edition of 50 pieces only with a scarcely seen Eastern Arabic numeral dial. Fitted with an attractive black appeal with red accents on the periphery of the railway track, the GMT function indicated by a bold red tip of the skeletonized hand allows the wearer to adjust the GMT hour with ease by its dedicated pusher at 10 o’clock. Turing the timepiece over reveals a caseback reveals adorned with detailed engraving of the Zenith aircraft. Numbered 24 from the limited edition and preserved in excellent condition, the present timepiece is also accompanied with its original warranty and accessories.

Zenith

Swiss | 1865
Since Zenith's beginnings, founder George Favre-Jacot sought to manufacture precision timepieces, realizing quality control was best maintained when production was housed under one roof. Zenith remains one of the few Swiss manufacturers to produce their own in-house movements to this day.

Today, the brand is best known for the "El Primero," the firm's most successful automatic chronograph movement. In an interesting twist of fate, the company that owned Zenith during the 1970s decided to move on to quartz movements and therefore sought to destroy the parts and tools necessary to make mechanical movements. One watchmaker realized this folly and hid the tools and parts before they were destroyed. In 1984, he returned them to Zenith so they could once again make the El Primero movement.
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