DATEZONER PILOT

DATE AND TIMEZONE SYNCHRONISED

On its journey to being recognised as THE reference for world time wristwatches, VOGARD has reached its third milestone with the launch of the DATEZONER PILOT - a watch that sets a new benchmark for world timers by combining date, time zone and time keeping functions.

The date is set via the bezel and is synchronised with the time zones and the cities on the bezel. This unique mechanism is patented and ensures that the date changes automatically when the hour hand is moved over the midnight line via the bezel, both clockwise and counter-clockwise. As a result, the watch always displays the right date in every time zone.

The date window positioned at 6 o'clock is extra large so that the date is very easy to read, with functionality being enhanced by a day/night disc positioned over the date window. The DATEZONER PILOT is based on the patented Timezoner movement and is equipped with a superb quality chronograph mechanism. The DATEZONER PILOT is truly a pilot's watch featuring UTC time and all official IATA metropolitan codes on the bezel.

THE SECRET OF THE SYNCHRONISATION WHEEL

The linking of the time zone with a disc to change date is a world first in the history of Swiss mechanical watch making. This ingenious solution became possible thanks to the development of a complex, angled synchronisation wheel which is activated by the Timezoner movement on one side and which meshes with one of the 31 knops on the bottom side of the date disc on the other side.

The calculation of the exact angle for the positioning of the synchronisation wheel on an inclined plane is a secret known only to VOGARD'S engineers who were supported by Andreas Strehler, one of the world's very best premiere watchmakers. The manufacturing of the components for this revolutionary mechanism requires a production tolerance of only 100th of millimetre. Only when all parts meet that level of precision can the date change accurately in one-day steps, forward and backwards.

LIGHT WEIGHT AND ULTRA STRONG TITANIUM CASE

There are many similarities in the development of aviation components and that of a watch. Due to its basic characteristics, specifically its strength to weight ratio, Titanium is selected for structural airframe applications include wing structures, landing gear components, critical fasteners, springs and hydraulic tubing. The key challenges faced by the designers of multi-complication watches are to make them comfortable to wear and of a practical size-to-weight ratio. The secret of the 48mm DATEZONER PILOT lies in its proportions, the fine balance of each case component and the fact that the case is made entirely from lightweight, hypo-allergenic, corrosion-resistant titanium.

IATA CODES ON BEZEL WITH PATENTED ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM

The bezel is engraved with UTC and all major metropolitan IATA codes. The outer circle is used for the period from March to October and the inner circle from November to February. Eventually, both circles will automatically account for changes of summer time (daylight savings time) in the northern hemisphere AND in the southern hemisphere which changes to DST in the reversed way on! Note that the VOGARD remains the only manufacturer to produce a time zone watch that accounts for daylight saving time and that offers bezels personalised with the cities or airport codes of your choice. The DATEZONER's ingenious method of time zone adjustment remains unaltered from that used on the original VOGARD models - in other words, just open the locking lever at the side of the case and rotate the engraved gold bezel so that the city relevant to the required time zone is at 12 o'clock. The lever is then closed and the watch is now securely set to local time.

SKELETONISED HANDS WITH STRONTIUM-ALUMINATES

The DATEZONER PILOT is equipped with extra large skeletonised hands in order to read all instruments instantly. They are covered with Strontium-Aluminates to make the time readable as well in darkness or at any flight level. This material is known for its extra strong fluorescence.

SUPERIOR FUNCTIONALITY THANKS TO AVIATION INSPIRATION

Practicality is a key aspect in any cockpit. This is why the DATEZONER PILOT offers improved functionality over standard chronographs thanks to the unique arrangement of the counters, the winding crown and the push pieces. The elapsed time counters are placed like a dashboard. The crown is positioned at six o'clock, while the chrono stop/start pusher is found at four o'clock and the reset pusher at eight o'clock. This highly ergonomic design is enhanced by the fact that the DATEZONER PILOT has extra large pushers that are best described as 'finger pedals'. The functions can be easily activated while the watch is still on the wrist, even when wearing gloves. The patented movement features a miniature high-tech clutch and a complex gear train, which enables the wearer to reset the watch to the appropriate airport in an instant, with no loss of accuracy.

COMFORT AND SAFETY FOR YOUR WRIST

The DATEZONER's straps in alligator or rubber are fully integrated with the case, which has cut-outs designed into the back to allow a perfect fit on the wrist. The strap is also strengthened with steel inserts to ensure that it will never fail even during the toughest sports events – and in true pit stop style it can be changed quickly and easily thanks to a special four screw fixing system.

MANUFACTURING

VOGARD assembles all their watches in own ateliers in Switzerland. 90 per cent of the DATEZONER PILOT's movement components are developed and manufactured in-house, with the all-important movement plate being made in collaboration with a leading manufacturer of aviation components. The result is a plate that offers far greater flexibility in the arrangement and in the development of watch functions.