Visionary: this term suits Georges Favre-Jacot perfectly. In 1865, he founded what would become Zenith in 1911. He no doubt had a certain flair: even though the first airplanes wouldn’t take flight until the early 20th century, Georges Favre-Jacot trademarked the Pilot brand in 1888, than trademarked the name Pilot six years later in order to ensure its exclusivity. A precursor to aviation, the founder of Zenith had a passion for it as well. He would approach pioneers of the sky such as Louis Blériot and Léon Morane to collaborate on timepieces that would be essential to their exploits. When Blériot was the first to venture across the English Channel in an airplane in 1909, it was a Zenith watch that accompanied him. His 36 minute crossing between Calais and Dover was made possible by the navigation instruments imagined by the manufacturer. “Isn’t Zenith a name predestined for aviators?” mused Morane.
But then World War I would break out. Zenith’s timepieces would become altimeters for the army, and they were asked to design an instrument with a black matte dial, large Arab numerals, and white hands to optimize contrast and readability. In the 20s, Georges Favre-Jacot launched the Royal Flying Corps, 30 Hours, Non Luminous, a revisited pocket watch that would equip the British air force – this was the ancestor of the famous Pilot watch.
Leave a Reply