Bremont has shifted away from a big bang drop of all its watches in the first quarter, plus a special edition in the autumn.
Co-founders Nick and Giles English said this week that they will unveil a more tightly curated selection at various dates throughout the year with a focus on prioritising watches using versions of Bremont’s inhouse movement, the ENG300.
An event in London last night was held to reveal two limited editions: a “tested beyond endurance” MB Viper made in lightweight titanium and anodised aluminium, and the Vulcan, a tribute watch to the iconic Avro Vulcan high altitude strategic bomber used by the Royal Air Force from 1956 until 1984.
Only the MB Viper uses an inhouse movement, in this case a self-winding ENG352 calibre with 65-hour power reserve, silicon escape wheel, free sprung hairspring with inertia weight timed balance and KIF shock protection.
Shock protection is key to this watch, which was put through ab extreme mechanical testing processes in collaboration with Martin Baker (the MB in Viper MB), a British firm that makes ejector seats for military aircraft.
Along with shock protection within the movement, it is also protected inside its titanium case by a rubberised mounting, which was also developed with Martin Baker’s input back in 2009.
The Viper MB, limited to 300 pieces, has the look of a concept watch with its matte black DLC treated case and orange anodized bezel.
It comes in at a substantial 48mm x 51.9mm size, including crown guards, and feels every inch the sort of watch that the most extreme pilots might wear.
The watch and its movement were tested to survive many of the challenges that a Martin Baker ejector seat might face in an emergency including zero to 15G acceleration, 100,000 feet altitude, and temperatures ranging from -46C up to 49°C.
“The testing that Martin Baker could offer was something previously untried or tested in this industry, it was entirely unparalleled,” Giles English says. “It’s truly remarkable what these mechanical timepieces can actually withstand. For me it really is the ultimate pilot’s watch and it’s exciting to still be testing the boundaries of the possible with such an innovative and technically excellent British business at the centre of aeronautical and military engineering,” he adds.
It is on sale from today for £5,495.
Bremont Limited Edition Vulcan
Sticking with Bremont’s passion for aviation, the British watchmaker also introduced an homage to the Cold War’s most important defensive aircraft, the Vulcan high altitude bomber.
The 42mm Limited Edition Vulcan, with a production run of 250 pieces, joins Bremont’s Armed Forces Collection produced in partnership with the British Ministry of Defence.
The chronograph is based on the design of the Bremont Arrow, but with details inspired the Vulcan including a stealthy matte clack dial and a small seconds subdial in textured camouflage.
The elapsed minutes counter has a nuclear symbol, a nod to the terrifying payloads carried by the bomber.
Its Modified Calibre 13 automatic movement is concealed behind a steel caseback featuring a raised depiction of the aircraft and a British Armed Forces insignia.
It is on sale now for £4,295.
