Reviewing the Bremont Vulcan Limited Edition
Wednesday - 10 May 2023
Paying homage to a favourite bomber of the Royal Air Force during the 1950s, Bremont unrobes the stunning Vulcan limited edition watch, paying homage to the iconic Avro Vulcan aircraft
Bremont has been enjoying a fruitful partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for some time and has released several timepieces that have been honoured by Her Majesty's Armed Forces, using the signs, symbols and Heraldic Badges of all three services in its designs and remaining the only watch manufacturer to do so. Its beautifully engineered wristwatches, showing the Royal Navy, British Army and the Royal Air Force emblems are some of the company’s most collectable, symbolising British aviation fused with expert mechanical timekeeping. As with all limited edition watches by Bremont, the Vulcan is implemented with several subtle nods to the piece of history from which it takes its inspiration. Let’s get up close and personal with the new Bremont Vulcan Limited Edition watch…
Camouflage details and references to arsenal carried by the Vulcan…
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, you should know that the new Bremont Vulcan watch is a chronograph that is exclusive to just 250 pieces worldwide. Those who consider themselves keen collectors of Bremont’s previous Ministry of Defence watches will no doubt be drawn to this new addition to the catalogue, but the watch will also appeal to historians and general fans of British aircraft from a bygone era. The watch measures a 42mm diameter and has been crafted from MoD-hardened stainless steel with satin and polished finishes. Framed by a steel bezel, a matte black dial features a running seconds sub-counter located at 9 o’clock. This sub-dial is adorned with a 3D camouflage design in a two-tone effect. To the other side of the dial, an elapsed 30-minute counter features the nuclear symbol, representing the arsenal carried on board the aircraft whilst in action, set against a rich black background. Balancing the two counters out is a date aperture at 6 o’clock.
Marking a first for Bremont, the brand has chosen to equip the dial of the new Vulcan Limited Edition watch with a set of skeletonised hour and minute hands in a cathedral style. These have been treated with lashings of blue emission white Super-LumiNova material, ensuring that they will illuminate during the night, as will the Arabic numeral hour markers and the hands in each of the two sub-counters. To complete the dial, a splash of RAF blue is afforded in the central chronograph hand. The details showcased in the dials and the colours used are a nod to the cold-war clocks seen in the cockpit of the iconic Vulcan aircraft.
The top of the case of the new Breitling Vulcan Limited Edition watch is capped with a strong piece of scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass that has undergone multiple layers of the company’s anti-reflective treatment. The underside of the watch is kitted out with a full steel caseback that has been stamped with the Heraldic badge for the British Air Force, as well as an engraving of the Avro B-1 Bomber. Behind this caseback is the modified BE-51AE movement, which promises a performance of 28,800 vibrations per hour and delivers a power reserve of 56 hours once fully wound. It sits inside a 100-meter water-resistant case attached to a blue Sailcoth strap, as well as an additional Camo-coloured Sailcloth strap that has been inspired by the Avro. The camouflage design was adopted by the aircraft following a white anti-flash paint. This finish was replaced by the camouflage design when the requirements of the Vulcan changed to more low-level tactical work. What’s more, the limited-to-250-piece Bremont watch also comes with a set of Vulcan-shaped cufflinks that contain aluminium material extracted from the original airframe of the Avro Vulcan XH558 aircraft, AKA the “Spirit of Great Britain”. This aircraft was the last of the Vulcan kind to serve on a military scale.
Co-founder of Bremont, Giles English extends upon the significance of this limited edition watch; “The Vulcan’s legacy as a symbol of British military power and technological innovation continues to be celebrated today, and it remains one of the most iconic aircraft of the Cold War era. As aviators ourselves, celebrating such remarkable aircraft and feats of engineering is truly inspirational and it’s fitting to incorporate these commemorative pieces within our Armed Forces Collection through Bremont’s partnership with the MoD.”
Representing an integral piece of equipment for the Royal Air Force between the 1950s through to the 1980s, the Vulcan B-1, the predecessor to the B-2, became part of Great Britain’s nuclear deterrent force for fifteen years before the Vulcan was used in ‘Operation Black Buck’ during the Falklands conflict. If you would like more information on the new Bremont Vulcan Limited Edition watch, you can call and speak to a member of our sales team at Jura Watches to secure yourself a timepiece on 01335 453453.
