[Press Release] The flight instruments in the cockpit of a fi ghter jet are subjected to abrupt variations in pressure, intense vibrations and violent accelerations – from 9G to 11G. Thanks to its robust construction, the ZENITH Stratos can withstand it all.

As the faithful heir of the Rainbow Flyback model developed for the French Air Force in 1997, the Stratos is equipped with the world’s most accurate automatic chronograph movement – the mythical El Primero – as well as the Striking 10th and Flyback functions. Accuracy and reliability have been the watchwords of the Manufacture ZENITH since 1865.

Very early on, this obsession with accuracy and precision played an important role in aviation and transport. Today, this Manufacture timepiece is becoming established in the fascinating world of military and sporting aviation, where performance and absolute confi dence in one’s team members take center stage. Clear for take-off !

As a manufacturer of navigational chronometric instruments for civil and military aviation, ZENITH proudly presents its new model: the El Primero Stratos Flyback Striking 10th. The original model that inspired this chronograph was the Rainbow Flyback, which was designed according to a set of specifi cations prepared by the French Ministry of Defense.

Watches designed for the military are required to meet a much higher number of demanding specifi cations than those required for civilian use, and this has led the ZENITHengineers to enhance the accuracy, endurance and reliability of their creations even further. These instruments must continue to function accurately even in extreme conditions, such as violent acceleration, pressure and temperature variations, vibrations and magnetic fields. Aviation undoubtedly represents one of the most challenging environments for watches and on-board instruments.

This newest ZENITH watch features an extremely durable casing and a notched, unidirectional rotating bezel with a black, scratch-proof ceramic disk. A telemeter scale has also been placed on the dial flange. The large date indicator at 6 o’clock features an instant-change mechanism. The rounded sapphire crystal is inspired by the shape of an astrodome – the dome located on the fuselage’s dorsal ridge to enable astronavigation.

The Stratos Flyback Striking 10th is equipped with the El Primero caliber. This integrated column-wheel chronograph movement beats at a high frequency and is 25% faster than all other mechanical calibers. The Striking 10th function visibly displays each beat of this exceptional mechanism – every tenth of every second – which represents the smallest division of time measurable by a mechanical caliber thus far.

The Stratos Striking 10th is also equipped with the Flyback function. While flying, routes are calculated based on predetermined destinations and times. Before the Flyback function was invented, wearers were required to press two different buttons three times each in order to stop, reset and restart the chronograph hand. This is too complicated and slow for pilots at the controls of a fighter jet. Ingenious watchmakers thus developed the Flyback function, which stops, resets and restarts the chronograph with one push of a single button. Pilots can thus recalculate a new route instantly, giving them an advantage that is particularly vital when landing according to a time conveyed by the control tower.

Only 1,969 copies of this limited-edition model will be produced. This number was chosen to mark the year the El Primero movement was first created.

Technical Specifications

Movement
El Primero 4057B, Automatic
Caliber : 13 1/4  (Diameter: 30 mm)
Depth : 6.60 mm
Parts : 326
Jewels : 31
Frequency : 36,000 V/h – (5 Hz)
Power reserve : over 50 hours
Finish : oscillating weight with “Côtes de Genève” pattern

Case, Dial & Hands
Material : stainless steel
Diameter : 45.5 mm
Crystal : sapphire glass with antireflection treatment on both sides
Case back : transparent sapphire glass
Water-resistance : 10 atm / 100 meters
Dial : silver sunray with 3 colored counters
Indexes & numerals : rhodium-plated faceted with Superluminova SLN C1
Hands : rhodium-plated faceted with Superluminova SLN C1

Functions
Hours and minutes in the center
Small seconds at 9 o’clock
Date indicator at 6 o’clock 1/10th of a second chronograph :
60-minute counter at 6 o’clock
60-second counter at 3 o’clock
1/10th of a second indicated by the chronograph hand

Strap & Buckle
Black alligator-leather strap with stainless steel triple folding buckle
Metal bracelet with stainless steel triple folding buckle