Zenith

Zenith Post Basel in Singapore

 

Cookyn Inc, using cooking as an approach/medium  for team-building and training.



Decorated like a Zenith booth ...



Peeping through the glass-door ...


One of the early birds ...attended by Hugo Escude, just joined Zenith two months ago as Brand Director for SE Asia, Australia & South Korea.



Explaining the collections ...



Vivian Lee, Zenith Brand Manager - Singapore & Malaysia with Hugo Escude  chatting with another press-member.


Quick snaps of the served up Basel 2012 Collection, starting with the El Primero Chronomaster 1969 ...


The Espada, a new line. 
Two of the eight models displayed.  Time-only and contained an El Primero 4650B.



This year star collection - the Pilots.

The giant Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 flanked by both Pilot Big Date Special.


The 57.50 mm titanium case Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 , on top of the print  variant of an early 20th century Louis Blériot  aviator-watch.

(More pics of the proto  Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 at the bottom of this post)

The caseback of Montre d’Aéronef Type 20.







While the rest was mesmerised by Montre d’Aéronef Type 20, a quick check of the setup behind the folding-walls ...


The project room already set up ... with the Zenith video playing ....


This was the afternoon task ... to decorate the cupcakes ...
Pilot theme  with Louis Blériot  aviator-watch, an aeroplane, a pilot carry-case and helmet-goggle.


The building-blocks ... cupcakes ...


The rest of the materials ....


One of the Instructors doing a last-round check ...






The aprons to transform the people to Chefs / Patissiers 


Most arrived ...



Session began with a brief introduction of Zenith and the objectives


Before the practical ...


Briefing by Chief Chef ...





A demo by sou chef ... all eyes and ears ... so easily done....


Now our turn ... suddenly everything was blurry.

Two choices -  Fight or Flight



These four were by the masters.

So it was our model answers



Most present ... their maiden cake-making 'flight' ...



Good practise ...for hygience ...


A few quickly turned on their engines ...


Fully engaged ...





Hugo hands-on ...








Vivian hands on ...


After an hour, all completed the task ... some of the end-products ...




















The session was not ended yet ... was invited to return to the table with the collections and everyone was given a pen and a few pieces of Post-It ... 

Hugo then asked the questions .... Wow! Sort of combined survey with profiling




About six questions were asked ...i remembered two

When you think of Zenith :

1) what colour represents Zenith?
2) Which animal represent Zenith ?

The answers ....












Before the watches were kept .... only have time to grab three ...



The 40mm steel Captain Central Second with 2 new dials - Smoked dials !

Simply beautiful!


Housing within is the automatic ELITE 670.

I just wish it is with EL Primero, just like the new Espada collection.


Gold case with brown smoke dial. 







Next is the 57.50 mm titanium case Montre d’Aéronef Type 20, limited to 250 pieces.

This watch is a tribute to  Louis Blériot (nicknamed 'Crash King) who was wearing a Zenith watch when he attempted the first flight across the English Channel on 25 July 1909.
He completed the 40km-flight  in 37 minutes in his plane, the Blériot XI and earned himself "Father of Aviation".

With this, it made Zenith, probably the pioneer of Pilot watches.






Though it is outsized at 57.5 diameter, the heft is acceptable as it is offset with the use of Grade-5 Titanium. Water-resistance is rated to 3 ATM.

Will need a large wrist to carry the piece, but would be great to wear over thick clothing.  The signature notched crown enable the owner to adjust time even with thick gloves on.  The hand-stitched antiqued thick calf-leather strap is surprisingly soft.  Perhaps it was well-seasoned. 






Small second at 9H and power reserve indicator at 3H.  Logical design having a power-reserve, serving its existence for the manual-wound Calibre 5011K and not for decoration or an extra feature for the specification.

The hands were matt brush-finished to provide it an industrial look. 
Wonder how it will look if the bezel-top is more matt . The vintage feel should be enhanced but the watch may be visually perceived to be smaller.


Both hands and the raised numeral markers are coated with SuperLuminova.


Alternate surface polishing was implemented.


Though large surface, reflection on crystal was well-reduced with double anti-reflective coatings for good legibility at various angles.




The notched crown.  Checking if it is steel or Ti ...

Note the lug-design, massive. Wondered how it fit onto the case.  Pretty small to be soldered on.
Also curious how the strap could be changed. 

More questions to check.


Lovely view!
A movement fully filled the caseback. 

It was mentioned that this pocket watch movement Cal 5011 was the most accurate chronometer ever tested by the Neuchatel Observatory in the 60s.
Strangely, another popular Pilot watch also having similar Calibre name -Cal 5011...


Now this 50mm Lépine calibre is back inside the Montre d’Aéronef Type 20.

The above pic is exposing the stem, with the crown pulled out.


The Cal 5011K is COSC certified and beats at 18,000 VPH with a power reserve of 48 hours.


Breguet overcoil hairspring with double-arrow index regulator.








As this is a prototype the plate is not numbered.


Looks like plate is mounted with blue-screws.  Maybe typical non-coloured screws to be used, in case it could be scratched off and the more appropriate areas to apply on should be with movement fastening the bridges.




Pin buckle... brushed Titanium.


A comparison pic for thickness.




The Montre d’Aéronef Type 20 may not be a daily piece for many, and perhaps is for the bold and definitely for the pocket watch lovers.  For those whose wrists could not carry it, and has a liking for it, the excuse is  to own one of the legendary 5011.  It could also be utilised as an accurate table-clock when not worn!


Kong