It was a red-letter day for Bremont Watches, with the unveiling of not only a new movement, Calibre BW-01, but also the announcement of a collaboration which is so remarkable that Nick English, co-founder of Bremont was compelled to admit that “…. I still cannot believe that it has happened…”
Bremont Wright Flyer Limited Edition
Bremont have a heritage of aviation-inspired timepieces. Both of the company’s founders Giles and Nick English are qualified pilots who regularly fly historic aircraft, and when it comes to anything regarding vintage aviation both brothers are as enthusiastic as school boys. The business was founded in 2002 and launched its first collection in 2007 but, long before the company became a reality, and even at its concept stage, aviation was an inherent part of the business, which was named “Bremont” in honour of a French farmer who had provided refuge to Nick and Giles when they were forced to land their 1930’s biplane in his field. Imagine then, the hoopla, the thrill and the sheer emotion that surrounds Bremont’s latest association, this time with the 1903 Wright Flyer aircraft.
The Bremont Wright Flyer Limited Edition watch will contain actual fabric from the wing cloth of the 1903 Wright Flyer aircraft which was built and designed by Wilbur and Orville Wright, and which became the world’s first successful powered flying machine. The precious material was discovered safely stored away when Orville Wright passed away in 1948, and it retains an almost “priceless” status – and naturally, Giles and Nick English are elated to have been given permission to integrate portions of it within the confines of their watchcases.
Bremont Wright Flyer Limited Edition
The use of historical artefacts in their watches is something which Bremont are rather good at. Previously they have paid tribute to the UK’s Wartime code-breaking base Bletchley Park by using material from an Enigma machine, have used original parts from HMS Victory, and have used genuine aluminium fuselage from a 1944 Mustang WWII aircraft. However, despite the famous characteristics of these historical fragments, Bremont have always resisted the urge to overdo the associations and each of these models is, like everything in their portfolio, understated and quietly elegant.
Bremont Calibre BW-01
As I have mentioned the Bremont Wright Flyer Limited Edition Watch will also feature a new movement the Calibre BW-01 which has been produced in part by Bremont and which has been developed along with La Joux-Perret, marking a step closer for the British company towards an in-house calibre. The movement features some beautiful finishing, and it has been engineered for precision and reliability. It also has double reverse bi-directional winding capabilities, but really the first time you see this movement, I bet that your main focus will be the small fragment of muslin layered between the rotor plate and the rear sapphire.
On the dial there is nothing fussy, just the clean styling we all expect from Bremont. The “1903” included on the sub-dial underlines the association with the Wright brothers in an entirely suitable low-key manner and the numerals have a quaint vintage charm. The Bremont Wright Flyer watch will be available with either white or black metallic dial and three editions will be made, 300 pieces with a stainless steel case, 100 pieces with an 18kt rose gold case and 50 pieces with an 18kt white gold case all measuring 43mm across.
Prices for the Bremont Wright Flyer Limited Edition will be $25,950 for the model in steel, $39,995 for the one in rose gold and $44,995 for the yellow gold version. More resources about this watch available on Hodinkee and ABTW.
