Silver Machine

Imbued with an early 20th-century aesthetic and featuring chunky, art deco-style numerals and a similarly enormous crown, the Zenith Type 20 is one of the most distinctive pilot’s watches you can buy; it’s also the only aviator-style timepiece that’s permitted to bear the word “pilot” on its dial. Zenith has been playing around with the 20 for several years now, by introducing smaller case sizes, and materials such as bronze and titanium. With the new Pilot Type 20 Chronograph Silver, however, it’s taken the unusual step of presenting the watch with not only a case in sterling silver but also a brushed silver dial, the latter designed to resemble the rivetted aluminium skin of a classic aircraft. With a diameter of 45mm and a thickness of more than 14mm, this is no shrinking violet on the wrist, but as it boasts bags of alpha-male appeal, the unusual El Primero 4069 self-winding movement that beats at 36,000vph, and a dial unblemished by a date window, it’s an immensely cool watch indeed.