Ornatus-Mundi offers a candid review of the Zenith Pilot Type 20 GMT Tribute To The Rolling Stones, a watch that boldly blends Zenith's aviation heritage with the iconic rock band's imagery. His detailed photographic essay and critical observations delve into the watch's design choices, from its substantial DLC-coated titanium case to the controversial dial graphics, providing a comprehensive look for collectors.
I am sitting right now in a café down in
Brixen (Bressanone) in South Tyrol, on a brightly sunny and already hot morning. The light has maybe gotten the better of me, thus I herewith treat you with an 'extra special' Zenith watch, the gaudy
Pilot Type 20 GMT Tribute To The Rolling Stones:
In respect to its origin, the watch is a typical member of the Pilot Series: a massive (diameter and thickness) case, here in 48mm DLC-coated titanium (thus light) with a screw-in crown. The movement is the venerable Zenith Elite Cal. 693 with dual-time function as well as a small seconds. All known and appreciated entities.
What's controversial (or: 'interesting', depending on vantage point) is the clothes the piece comes with: the ostentatious (and famous) Rolling Stones tongue, combined with leather underwrapping that would make every 55+ Harley Davidson rider envious:
It is the dial which really taught me the limits of my sympathy. First, the tongue... on a Zenith watch? A pilot's watch? Why?
Sure, there are few nice details: the egg-shell texture of the dial surface area (essential, as the dial is quite large at 40mm and devoid of any further structural elements), and then there are the 3D numerals precision-cut from full luminova.
But if you look deeper you'll notice that the base graphics used for the tongue design look like screenshots from a 1990s TV set, taken with a contemporary phone camera. These colour fringes (teeth!) - ouch!
Better to turn it slightly and appreciate some more palpable elements. Such as the oversized and very comfortable crown. Precise cuts, but not too sharp to eventually hurt.
As it befits the Pilot series, each watch comes with a screwed on number plate, here with the individual number out of the total batch of 200 pieces (edited out as this specific watch was already sold).
On its back the tongue greets us once more, but here at least I don't mind it.
The leather underwrapping is easily removable. In its back (=skin) side a vintage Zenith company letterhead graphics is embossed, nicely detailed and - frankly - a sympathetic reminder on the brand's famous chronometric track record:
The Pilot watch otherwise comes with a nice black calfskin leather strap, adorned with red terminal trimmings and its underside coated with rubber. The simple pin buckle is not titanium, but stainless steel again with black DLC coating:
Now comes
the moment...
Not bad, I have to admit. At least its returns considerable fun wearing it, despite all the initial nitpicking above. This watch begs to be worn, but be aware that puts your image as seasoned watch collector to test.
Did I mention its a bold piece?
However, isn't fun often derived by those
je ne sais quoi moments of delight and happiness, unconstrained by intellectual self-chastisement? As much as I would repudiate this watch, as a watch aficionado, I would light-heartedly strap it on for a night of well-mannered frivolity, aka paaaartyyy!
This I think is a feasible way to talk oneself into such a piece (heck, its less than 7 grand*, after all...) - but here we are again with our intellect.
No, I don't think a acclaimed manufacture like Zenith should create such pieces. But then, there are situations one can get away with it... Your mileage might vary, indeed!
Cheers,
Magnus
________
*) There might be some Rolling Stones incentives packed with the watch. I would recommend you contact your local retailer as this might differ from country to country, and might subject ot terms and availability.
