Bremont Watch Boeing 100 Review

by Angus Davies, www.escapementmagazine.com 

A passion for flight 

The passion for flying exhibited by Bremont's co-founders, Nick and Giles English, transcends merely sitting in 'Business Class' and sipping Champagne. Indeed, these two charismatic brothers both enjoy sitting at the controls of vintage planes when they are not running their highly successful British watch company, Bremont. 

Aerospace is very much part of the Bremont DNA, from the brand's propellor logo to supplying numerous military squadrons with bespoke, personalised timepieces. Several years ago, Bremont formed a partnership with Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company, which continues to endure. This partnership is not merely a branding exercise but includes a genuine sharing of information, particularly in the area of materials research. 

In recognition of the close relationship both companies enjoy, Bremont has recently unveiled a new limited edition chronograph, the aptly named the Bremont Boeing 100, created to celebrate Boeing's 100th anniversary. 

The dial 

The brown metal dial of the Bremont Boeing 100 is a first for the British watch company and imbues the watch with a retro feel, similar to a sepia toned photograph. The colour, termed 'Boeing Brown', was used in the cockpits of older Boeing aircraft in order to bestow a relaxing environment for pilots to work within. 

Three contrasting white subdials grace the brown dial, according a crispness to the dial vista. A 12-hour chronograph register is located above 6 o'clock and bears the anniversary period, '1916-2016'. Positioned adjacent 9 o'clock is a small running seconds indication, imparting information with a combination of a neat black hand and Arabic numerals. A 30-minute chronograph register resides below noon. 

A historic 'Boeing Totem' logo is located next to the crown, reinforcing the vintage persona of this timepiece. The date is presented in white text on a black disc via an aperture positioned between 4 and 5 o'clock. The Bremont Boeing 100 is ideally suited to transatlantic flight, courtesy of its GMT function. A white hour hand, outlined in yellow, allows the wearer to observe the prevailing hour at 'home' whilst simultaneously displaying the local time. 

The hour and minute hands are white, outlined in black, and coated in Super-LumiNova, aiding legibility in restricted light. The hands collaborate with luminescent hour markers and proffer superb readability. A central chronograph seconds hand sports a triangular tipped hand, outlined in red, denoting elapsed seconds with laser-like precision. 

Encircling the dial area is a 24-hour scale that can be used in conjunction with the GMT hand to indicate day or night at 'home'. 

Despite the intentional use of vintage design elements, the functionality of the dial has not been sacrificed in the pursuit of style. Indeed, a fundamental strength of the Bremont Boeing 100 is the lucid dialogue with the wearer. 

The case 

Whilst the dial betrays an aesthetic which references yesteryear, the case brims with modernity. It is 43mm in diameter and constructed of Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 titanium. This special metal is reputedly stronger than commercial titanium and is employed in the construction of 'both airframes and engine components within the aerospace industry.' 

Bremont has employed its Trip-Tick® three-part construction method for the case. The case band is formed of scratch resistant DLC. The case back is, once again, made of Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 titanium with a generously proportioned sapphire crystal according a view of the self-winding movement within. 

The bi-directional bezel is off-white with a scratch-resistant inner ring. The bezel is an exemplar of brevity with a combination of neat black strokes, Arabic numerals and a triangular index at noon. All of these elements synergistically aid interpretation, making the bezel highly intuitive to use. 

Diagonal fluting graces the rim of the crown, conferring a contemporary aesthetic. This sense of modernity is reinforced with the vertical flank of the crown which features carbon fibre composite from the state of the art Boeing Dreamliner testbed aircraft, ZA004. 

The movement 

Precision is assured with the BE-54AE automatic movement courtesy of independent testing and certification by Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (C.O.S.C.). Despite its comparatively modest size, Bremont has become a significant producer of chronometers, earning an enviable reputation for the accuracy of its timepieces since its foundation in 2002. 

The BE-54AE has a frequency of 28,800 vph (4Hz), contains 25 jewels and a power reserve of 42 hours. The oscillating mass is skeletonised and resembles the appearance of jet engine veins. Numerous blued screws are visible on the movement. 

Closing remarks 

The Bremont Boeing 100 wonderfully references the historic planes of the early 20th century with its chosen colour-scheme and period Boeing totem logo. However, this limited edition chronograph also references the achievements of today's Boeing, with its case formed of cutting-edge Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 titanium and its crown sporting an insert from the Dreamliner testbed aircraft, ZA004. 

Despite the mix of vintage and modern details, the design of the resultant timepiece is cohesive and incredibly handsome. Moreover, whilst the styling of the Bremont Boeing 100 incorporates a plethora of smile-inducing elements, nothing detracts from the primary objective of imparting the time. Indeed, this watch not only communicates the hours and minutes, it offers an array of other functions, including the date, a chronograph and GMT function all presented in a clear, unambiguous tone. 

By creating the Bremont Boeing 100, Nick and Giles English have disclosed, once more, their innate passion for flight and, in so doing, created a super chronograph in the process.