The dial features oversized Arabic numerals for ease of legibility, the metal numbers filled with white Super-LumiNova, except for at six o’clock where instead there is a horizontal line, echoing the artificial horizon instrument on a plane’s control panel. The Pilot Automatic is powered by the El Primero 3620 high-frequency manufacture movement, which offers a power reserve of 60 hours.

There’s an even cleverer brain at the heart of another key piece in the new Pilot collection: the Pilot Big Date Flyback. The new chronograph comes with a pair of additional functions courtesy of the new El Primero 3652 automatic high-frequency chronograph calibre. The oversized date display features a mechanism that advances and stabilises its wheels in less than 0.03 seconds, while the flyback function allows the chronograph to be reset and restarted with the push of a button. The calibre, which again visually mimics the horizon instrument – this time with its rotor – which can be viewed through the back of the watch.

The Pilot Big Date Flyback comes in two versions: a stainless steel one with a minutes totaliser in alternating colours, and central chronograph seconds and minutes hands in bright orange; and a black ceramic rendition with luminescent white markers and hands.

Joining the new Pilot timepieces in Zenith’s line-up for 2023 are some equally innovative new pieces in its Defy collection. The Defy Skyline and Defy Skyline Skeleton reimagine the original 1969 collection with a distinctly modern feel, entirely in black ceramic; while the latest addition to the Defy Revival collection – the Defy Revival Shadow – takes the historic codes of the piece and gives them a cool new darker look.