Zenith was the first watch brand to officially partner with an established watch customizer – Bamford Watch Department. The two companies first collaborated in June 2017 and since then have introduced customized versions of watches like the El Primero Original, Heritage 146, and Cronometro Tipo CP-2.
Zenith and Bamford Watch Department collaborated on special editions in the following years, allowing customers to create and customize their watches. As part of this new collaborative effort, both brands have paid tribute to the highly regarded Zenith Pilot Type 20 watch initially presented in 2012.
The Zenith tablet app enables endless customizations with the new Zenith Pilot Type 20 Chronograph. The watch stays true to its predecessor’s features, such as the 45mm case, the downturned kink in the lug profile, and the iconic onion crown at the 3 o’clock position commemorating the original Zenith pilot watch from 1909.
The timepiece is available in two case variants: the original stainless steel aged finish and the matte black finish. The aged metal case gives this watch a vintage vibe, and the back of the case features a specially engraved illustration. The watch features large cathedral-style hands, a minute side ring, Arabic hour markers for time indication, and SuperLuminova coating on its hour markers and hands for visibility in low light conditions.
Customization Options
Through Zenith’s tablet application, customers can create thousands of variations of this fantastic timepiece. The app is available in all Zenith boutiques worldwide. In addition to the case material option, Bamford Watch Department offers 11 different color options: White, Black, Ferrari Red, Aqua Blue, Colette Blue, BWD Yellow, BWD Orange, BWD Green, Army Green, BWD Purple, BWD Grey. Customers can customize any part of the watch with these vivid colors, including the leather strap stitching, hour markers, and the dial.
Watch owners can change the color of the BWD logo and the Zenith logo present on the watch’s upper half. Moreover, BWD allows customers to imprint their initials under both brands’ logos, which gives this timepiece a personal touch. You can even customize the hands to change the color and the Superluminova coating.
Movement:
This brand-new Pilot Type 20 Chronograph is fitted with the same caliber as the 2018 Bronze Pilot Type 20 Chronograph, the El Primero 4069 automatic movement. Designed and built by Zenith, this column-wheel action chronograph movement has a power reserve of 50 hours and a frequency of 36,000 vibrations per hour.
Availability, Price, and Delivery.
The Zenith customizable Pilot Type 20 Chronograph is limited to 100 pieces and retails for £9,100.00 (approximately USD 12,000). The watch and the Zenith app are exclusively available in Zenith boutiques worldwide.
Once the buyer approves the design, Bamford watch Department will produce each watch component using an artisanal method that involves painting by hand. Following that, all the customized parts will ship to Zenith’s manufacturing facility for assembly. Delivery takes about 12 weeks.
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