Introduction
Zenith's connection with aviation stretches back to the pioneering years of powered flight, and the Pilot Type 20 collection draws heavily on the oversized instruments and watches associated with those early aviators. Introduced in 2020, the Type 20 Blueprint takes that historical inspiration in a more unusual direction, exposing the normally hidden design process behind a watch dial. Its substantial 45mm stainless steel case, oversized onion crown and highly legible Arabic numerals retain the familiar Type 20 aesthetic, but the dial transforms the watch into something altogether more technical.
Limited to 250 pieces, the Blueprint features a two-part blue dial based on the technical production plans used by Zenith when developing its Pilot dials, revealing construction lines, measurements, alignment points and typographical details that would ordinarily disappear from the finished design. Beneath this deliberately technical display sits Zenith's automatic Elite calibre 679, offering approximately 50 hours of power reserve. The result is a particularly distinctive interpretation of the Type 20 that celebrates not only Zenith's aviation heritage, but the design and engineering process behind the watch itself.
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Grade
M 9.5
Status
Vetted & Approved
Included
Box, warranty, booklet and hangtag
Est. value range
$2,000 – $4,000
The Details
Brand
Zenith
Dimensions
45mm x 15.6mm
Model
Pilot Type 20 Blueprint
Movement
Automatic Zenith Elite cal. 679
Reference
03.2435.679
Bracelet
Leather strap
Year
Circa 2020
Condition
Like new
Material
Stainless steel
Included
Box, warranty, booklet and hangtag
Dial Color
Blue
THE DIAL
The defining feature of the Blueprint is its unusual two-part blue dial, inspired by the technical plans used during the design process. Construction lines, dimensions and reference markings reveal the calculations behind the positioning and proportions of the dial elements, while the large luminous Arabic numerals and hands preserve the exceptional legibility traditionally associated with Zenith's Pilot watches.
THE CONSTRUCTION
At 45mm in diameter, the Type 20 Blueprint has the imposing proportions characteristic of Zenith's aviation-inspired collection. Its stainless steel case is paired with an oversized onion-shaped crown, originally inspired by the large crowns that could be operated by early pilots while wearing gloves, while a numbered plaque on the case side identifies the watch as number 82 out of only 250 examples produced.
TIMING MACHINE READOUT
This reading was taken (crown down) with a ONEOF Accuracy Boutique Edition timing machine at time of cataloging. It is provided as a courtesy only, and shall not be construed as a warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please refer to our terms and conditions of sale for more information.
Condition
Watch is in overall like-new condition. The case shows only light signs of wear or handling. Comes with the inner and outer boxes, warranty, booklet, and hangtag.
Our Perspective
The Type 20 Blueprint is an imaginative variation on Zenith's familiar Pilot formula. Rather than simply referencing early aviation, its dial exposes an element of watch design collectors almost never get to see, turning the technical drawings behind the finished product into the aesthetic itself. Limited to just 250 pieces, it is one of the more unusual and engaging executions of the modern Type 20.
Justin Gruenberg
Co-founder
