Although Zenith Pilot Big Date replica watches are often offered in over-sized (sometimes ridiculously so) bodies, this new Zenith Pilot Big Date (Ref. 03.2410.4010/21.C722) self-winding chronograph is presented in a deliciously mid-sized stainless steel body that will look perfect not only with a worn-leather bomber jacket and a three day stubble, but also with a custom-tailored business suit.
While a trifle smaller, the Pilot Big Date still looks a trifle more masculine, mainly thanks to a less cluttered dial and the machine-brushed finish on all of its surfaces (the Doublematic World Timer had its bezel mirror-polished) that give it a more military appearance.
Sporting a stainless steel body only 42 millimeters in diameter, the new Zenith copy watch speaks the same design language as the Zenith Pilot Doublematic World Timer Automatic (Ref. 03.2400.4046/21.C721) timepiece that was revealed back in March during the Baselworld 2012 event.
Another nice feature of the new Pilot Big Date is the telemeter scale, which is printed on the bezel flange. Although as useless as the omnipresent tachymeter scale, the indicator is at least doesn’t look as boring.
According to the Swiss manufacturer, the watch is animated by their in-house Zenith El Primero 4010 automatic caliber that was first introduced around six or seven years ago. As usual for the El Primero range, all parts of the movement are skillfully decorated with the oscillating weight sporting the traditional open-worked design with the usual Zenith Star in the center.
As many recently introduced chronographs, the new watch sports a bi-compax dial layout with an indicator at 9 o’clock showing small seconds and the sub-dial at 3 hours reserved for a 30-minute chronograph totalizer. Staying true to its name, the piece features a large date indicator at 6 hours. To my deepest regret, the calendar window doesn’t look as dramatic as that on the aforementioned Zenith World Timer.
Of course, the watch is not terribly cheap. At this time, the Pilot Big Date is offered at $7200 (version on a leather strap) and $7600 (on a stainless steel mesh bracelet), but you can find it online at some $5500 USD.
This can be a very nice choice if you are tired from designs offered by IWC and Omega.
Photos: Zenith
Zenith Pilot Big Date Special Edition (Ref. 03.2410.4010/21.C722) automatic watch specification
Price: $7500 (leather strap) / $7600 (steel bracelet)
Movement: Automatic, Zenith El Primero 4010, in-house, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 31
Movement frequency: 36,000 vph
Power reserve: 50 hours
Movement decoration: Skeletonized oscillating weight
Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, telemeter, date
Case material: Stainless steel
Bezel material: Matches case
Crown material: Matches case
Case shape: Round
Bezel shape: Round
Case size: 42.00 mm
Case height: No data
Lug width: No data
Dial: Black
Numerals: Arabic, luminous
Hour markers: Luminous
Hands: Steel, luminous
Water resistance: 50 meters
Strap: Leather straps of different colors or a stainless steel mesh bracelet
Crystal: Sapphire
Case back: Sapphire
From the point of view of legibility, the replica Zenith Pilot Big Date special watch deserves the highest praises and accolades. Not only the bold Arabic numerals with their white Superluminova look very contrast on the matte black background of the dial, but the hands themselves are perfectly visible both in broad daylight and in total darkness. As you can see, even the small seconds on both sub-dials have their tips painted with white lume.