The Zenith Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu replica watch is hands-down one of the oddest timepieces I had the pleasure of seeing at Baselworld 2014. In hand-engraved 18k white gold and sapphire crystal, this massive pilot-style replica watch was an even more exclusive take on the surprising hit limited edition Zenith Pilot Montre d’Aeronef Type 20 watch from 2012.
This movement is about 50mm wide, so you understand why the case of this pilot-stytleed replica watch is so large. I haven’t discussed numbers yet, but from the look of the Zenith replica watch you can tell it is huge – which it no doubt is.
You will have a very unique case architecture that includes 18k white gold lugs with front and rear bezel in the Zenith Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu replica watch, with a middle section and caseback produced from transparent sapphire crystal.
Speaking of size, this isn’t a small watch as I mentioned, but it has to be large because of the size of the movement. Zenith measures the Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu replica watch to be 60mm wide which includes the crown. That is at least 10mm more the the widest watch size most people’s wrists can handle. Also, assume for a moment that the average watch size is about 40-42mm wide, then the Zenith Pilot Type 20 replica watch is a full 1/3 larger than the average watch. It also happens to be 18.5mm thick.
As the “Grand Feu” part of the Zenith Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu replica watch name implies, the dial is produced from grand feu enamel. Yet again, we have something which makes the watch unique – how many pilot-style watches have enamel dials? What makes this design so interesting is that elements of it are meant for classic dress watches while Zenith produced it to sort of look like a vintage sport watch – with a lot of decoration. A timepiece such as the Zenith Pilot Type 20 Grand Feu replica watch will look really nice next to your set of engraved blades and guns.
Enamel dials are very beautiful, and the color lasts more-or-less forever. A close look at the white grand feu enamel dial of this watch yields extremely crisp hour numerals, text, and markers. Grand feu implies that after the enamel is applied, the entire dial is baked to make it permanent. If you want an enamel dial watch on the cheap merely to appreciate the technique, look for a vintage pocket watch with an enamel dial.
