The Zenith Heritage Pilot Café Racer

[koimaster]

The Heritage Pilot Café Racer is the latest entry in Zenith’s famed collection of pilot watches, and on paper it’s a great addition with its own spin on the genre. But is the connection between 1960s café racing culture and high-flying timekeeping instruments a little too far fetched? And does it matter if it is?

The new Café Racer has all the redeeming qualities of a classic pilot’s watch, i.e. a lot of oversized features, from its case and Arabic numerals to its onion crown and faceted hands. But this particular pilot's watch is inspired by a wingless machine, ridden not flown, on long ribbons of concrete.

The Café Racer was a hybrid motorcycle, and the symbol of a timid movement led by Britain’s thrill-seeking, blue-jean-wearing youth in the '60s. Gathering at cafés – the kind with a liquor license and a jukebox filled with good tunes – they’d race lightweight bikes such as the Triton (Triumph engine + Norton frame). They were uncomfortable but fast, and they looked good in between races.

The Heritage Pilot Café Racer follows the same logic. It’s built around the El Primero 4069, an impressive high-frequency movement beating at 36,000 vph and one capable of delivering a solid 50 hours of power reserve. But Zenith have not gone the lightweight route with the case.


http://www.hodinkee.com/articles/the-ze ... subculture

[conjurer]

I know a lot of members of the Bandido MC around here wear Zenith El Primero high-beat wristwatches.

[Beau nidle]

I wonder what the aspirational timepiece for the 1%er is? Did Invicter ever do an HD colab? With buckskin fringes and conchos? Missing a step if not.

[foghorn]

The crown is too small.