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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →“Type 20 GMT” names a family of Zenith pilot watches, not a single reference. When people use the name in a hands-on context, they usually mean the 1903 limited edition, reference 96.2431.693/21.C738: a 48 mm titanium watch with an automatic Elite calibre 693, a 50-hour power reserve, and a GMT hand that tracks a second time zone on a 24-hour scale. The GMT hand is advanced by a pusher at 10 o’clock, one hour per press, so this is not a traveller GMT that jumps the local hour hand. Size is the decision that matters most, and it is covered below along with how to identify the right reference and what to check before buying a pre-owned example.
This article draws on published hands-on coverage: Monochrome’s 2013 review, Hodinkee’s introduction of January 7, 2014, the GPHG (Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève) model record, and a 2022 Phillips auction catalogue. It is not based on new testing. Current prices and stock could not be verified as of October 2026, so the pricing figures here are historical.
Identify the right reference before anything else
Zenith has used the Type 20 GMT name for materially different versions, and the sources do not all describe the same watch. Confirm which one you are looking at before comparing case material, strap, or dial.
| Version | Reference | Case | Strap and dial as reported | Edition size | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Type 20 GMT 1903 (limited edition, launched 2014) | 96.2431.693/21.C738 | 48 mm, 15.8 mm thick, DLC-coated titanium | Beige suede bund-style strap; red-tipped GMT hand | 1,903 pieces | GPHG model record; Hodinkee, January 7, 2014 |
| Type 20 GMT, stainless-steel version reviewed in 2013 | Not stated in the sources | Stainless steel; diameter not stated in the sources | Brown contrast-stitched strap with rubber lining | Not stated | Monochrome review, 2013 |
| Type 20 GMT, circa-2016 titanium edition | 96.2438.693/23.C721 | Titanium with DLC coating | Not stated | 50 pieces | Phillips auction catalogue, 2022 |
Pilot Type 20 GMT 1903
This is the edition with the most documentation. The GPHG record lists a titanium case with a leather strap, 48 mm diameter, 15.8 mm thickness, 100 m water resistance, automatic calibre 693 with a 50-hour power reserve, 28,800 vph, and hours, minutes, seconds, and dual-time indication. Hodinkee’s 2014 introduction describes the case as DLC-coated titanium and the strap as beige suede in a bund style, and links the 1,903-piece count to the Wright brothers’ 1903 flight. That link is Hodinkee’s historical attribution. It does not establish any aviation use for the watch.
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- Zenith Pilot Montre D'aeronef Type 20 Automatic Men's Watch 29.2430.679/21.C753
Stainless-steel Type 20 GMT (2013 review)
Monochrome’s 2013 review covers a stainless-steel Type 20 GMT with a brown, contrast-stitched strap. Details from that review should not be applied to the 1903. The reviewer’s observations about the crown, dial, and hands describe that steel version.
Circa-2016 titanium reference 96.2438.693/23.C721
A Phillips auction catalogue from 2022 describes this reference as a 50-piece limited edition in DLC-coated titanium. It is a separate reference from the 1903, and the catalogue does not give strap or dial details that can be carried over to the 1903.
Rank #2
- Black small second dial
- Brown leather strap
- Swiss-automatic movement
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Water resistant to 330 feet
How the GMT function works
The GMT hand is set independently and shows a second time zone on a 24-hour scale. Monochrome’s reviewer describes it as an “office GMT”: it can show a home or second time, but it does not independently jump the local hour hand when you cross time zones. In practice, that means the pusher at 10 o’clock moves the GMT hand forward one hour per press, and the watch is not a one-push tool for changing your local time.
- Reading the second time: Read the 24-hour GMT hand against the 24-hour scale rather than against the local hour hand.
- Correcting the GMT hand: Press the 10 o’clock pusher to advance it one hour at a time, which takes multiple presses across a long offset.
- Changing time zones: Do not expect the pusher alone to move your local time to a new zone. Plan the local time change as a separate adjustment, and check the method against the instruction set included with your watch.
- Legibility: Monochrome describes high-contrast numerals and a red skeletonized GMT arrow on the steel version. The 1903’s red-tipped GMT hand serves the same reading task, but the sources do not describe its legibility in detail.
Size: the fit decision
At 48 mm in diameter and 15.8 mm thick, the 1903 is a large watch, and its size should drive the buying decision more than any other specification. The reviewer at Monochrome wore the steel Type 20 GMT for a month and found the large case wearable. That is one reviewer’s experience, not a universal fit guarantee. Eric Singer, a musician and Zenith collector quoted by Hodinkee in January 2014, took the opposite view on practicality: “It’s not practical to wear because it’s so giant, but it’s just an awesome-looking watch.”
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- Movement: Japan MIYOTA 8215 Mechanical Automatic Movement, Automatic winding, second stop device, 40 hours of energy storage, quite accurate.
- Sapphire Mirror: The watch mirror is made of sapphire glass, which is Hard texture and less prone to scratches.
- Fashion watch: This Pilot watch is made of Stainless steel Lassa craft case, genuine leather strap, which not only ensures the comfort of the wrist, but also can easily match your clothes. Fits wrists from approximately 152mm to approximately 228mm.
- Waterproof & Luminous: The Aviator watch is water resistant to 50 methers, It can support daily hand washing, car washing, rain and other water contact sports. Luminous hands and markers, It can see the time in dark place or at night.
- As a gift: watches are suitable for outdoor sports such as running, sports, fishing, dating, new year, christmas, thanksgiving, hollywood, wedding, anniversary, birthday, graduation, father's day, birthday party, corporate events.
The sources do not give lug-to-lug length or lug width, so the wrist-fit question cannot be answered from them. Measure your wrist and compare the watch’s dimensions with a reference you trust before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Water resistance
The GPHG record lists 100 m water resistance for the 1903. That figure supports ordinary daily wear. It does not make the watch suitable for diving, and no independent water-resistance testing appears in the material reviewed for this article.
Rank #4
- Movement : ST2502
- Dial diameter : Approx.43mm
- Thickness : Approx.13.5mm
- Strap width: Approx.22mm
- Strap circumference : 19m
Buying a pre-owned example
Current prices and stock were not verifiable. The only price in the sources is historical: a 2020 post from Zenith Boutique Osaka lists a 1903 at ¥986,000. That figure reflects 2020 and should not be read as a current valuation.
Before buying, check the following:
- Exact reference: Confirm 96.2431.693/21.C738 for the 1903, or 96.2438.693/23.C721 for the circa-2016 titanium edition, and make sure the listing does not mix the two.
- Authenticity: Ask for the seller’s authentication process and documentation.
- Condition and service history: Request photographs of the case, crown, pusher, and caseback, and any record of past service.
- Included parts: Confirm whether the box, papers, and any spare straps are included.
- Return terms: Get the seller’s return and inspection terms in writing before paying.
Original leather and suede straps are documented, so a replacement strap is a realistic accessory. The sources do not establish lug width or compatibility for replacement straps, so check your watch’s measurements before ordering one.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
