Bremont – A Very British Timehop

If you prioritise high-quality chronometer accuracy in a watch and you like classic timepieces that capture a passion for engineering and all things aviation, Bremont watch company should be on your list for your next purchase. Why? Delve inside this overview of the British brand to see what makes it tick and how this Henley-on-Thames manufacturer is slowly but surely bringing authentic, high-quality watchmaking back to British shores.

It didn’t take long for Bremont to win a legion of fans over with its horological masterpieces. Bremont brothers Nick and Giles English – the company's founders (2002) – have always shared a love of art, engineering and aircrafts – the latter of which was no doubt inherited by their father who sadly lost his life in a plane accident. Having a father to look up to who was both an aeronautical engineer and a former RAF pilot certainly influenced the brothers’ spirit of adventure and their involvement in helping him restore clocks, vintage watches, cars and planes. The launch of Bremont seemed a natural move for the boys, who used to spend their free time flying or immersing themselves in their love of horology. What better way to combine the two than with a British brand focusing on military and aviation-inspired timepieces?

Prepare for Ejection

The reason why Bremont became such a huge success from the get-go was purely down to the fact that it was never dictated by fashion and trends. These designs were classic and timeless, and each innovation took years in the making. The first collection, for example, took a total of seven years of research and development, setting benchmarks in quality across the board and boasting a build and performance that Bremont tested beyond normal limits. In that same year, fighter ejection seat technology experts Martin-Baker approached Bremont to create a watch that could withstand the shock and impact of one of their ejection seats. The watch needed to be tested to the same exacting standards as the ejection seat technology itself. Thus, the MBI watch series was born and was made available only to those who had been ejected from an aircraft using one of these specialist seats. The MBII followed, complete with Bremont’s Trip-Tick case technology which seas experts construct these watches using a seperate caseback, bezel and middle barrel. 

Watches For the Skies and the Seas

Another important design was the AIRCO, named after one of the UK’s first aviation companies, and the ALT1-C chronograph, which Bremont later extended with versions made from a stealthier black DLC-coated case. By 2009, Bremont had launched its Supermarine 500 – a dive watch collection with a crown guard, a sapphire crystal front, and a three-piece case construction. It soon became a favourite among Bremont fans, especially for its beautiful engineering and robust exterior. Even these models, primed for the water, were named after the British aircraft manufacturer responsible for the Supermarine S6B Schneider Trophy seaplane. 

The Partnerships

In addition, Bremont chartered new territory in 2019 when it began its partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MoD). It became the sole watchmaker granted permission to use the heraldic badges of all three services in its Armed Forces watches: the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force, and the British Navy.  Speaking of partnerships, no introduction to Bremont watches is complete without mentioning its collaboration with Jaguar, which began in 2014 when the brand announced the release of six limited edition watches inspired by the Jaguar E-Type race car. Its successors, the MKI, MKII, and MKIII, were equally as popular, transporting the wearer back to the era of the 1960s sports car. In addition to this collaborative work with esteemed British brands, Bremont has also enjoyed partnerships with England Rugby, America’s Cup and Man TT. 

The Wing

Looking beyond all this, however, Bremont is a watchmaker that shows an unwavering commitment to excellent mechanical watch engineering and, as a result of making some huge investments in British manufacturing, is helping to resuscitate a once thriving industry in watchmaking throughout the UK. Thanks to investments made in machining, Bremont can develop small precision components and now operates from its huge state-of-the-art 35,000 sq ft Manufacturing & Technology centre – The Wing. Over the last couple of years, Bremont has focused on transforming its previous catalogue into a more cohesive portfolio, with core categories comprising watches for land, sea and air. Amongst these categories are watches like the Terra Nova, inspired by vintage field watches, including the latest Jumping Hour releases in bronze and steel, and the Altitude range, comprising the Martin-Baker-inspired MB Meteor watch in titanium and the Altitude 39 Date – a compact time and date design. 

Has Bremont’s history got you thinking about adding one of these British-made watches to your collection? Call and speak to a member of our sales team on 01335 453453 or email us at help@jurawatches.co.uk