British watchmaker Bremont has been responsible for some of the most exciting wristwatches to be released over the last few years, and Bremont limited edition watches have invariably been received with such enthusiasm that they typically number among the most sought-after of all timepieces.
Recently, a good deal of attention has been focused upon a brand new limited edition from Bremont. Announced on their website some weeks ago, expectation has been mounting as the day of the unveiling drew closer, and now the wait is finally over. The Bremont Wright Flyer is the culmination of this anticipation, and it’s no exaggeration to say that this instantaneously historic timepiece is possibly the most collectable timepiece in the world at present.
In this, the first of two features on the Wright Flyer, we shall dwell upon the history that has inspired this landmark chronometer. The second article will focus more upon the timepiece itself, but, as we shall see, the history behind the Wright Flyer is just as important to its appeal as the engineering.
The Wright Brothers
The Wright Flyer was the iconic invention of Wilber and Orville Wright (see below) in 1903, and at the time it represented the most powerful flying machine on the planet. The Wright brothers, from Ohio, completed this undertaking without funding and without even graduating from high school, yet despite these obstacles they will stand throughout time as the pioneers of truly controlled flight.
Their Achievement
The initial flight of the Wright Flyer was unimpressive by today’s standards, lurching untidily under a grey December morning, but it crucially touched down again after soaring 120 feet in a mere 12 seconds. This feat represented the zenith of the Wright brothers’ dream of mastering the skies. Previously, in 1902, the brothers had developed the very first three-axis system that modern aircraft still depend upon today, but the Wright Flyer was their undoubted crowning glory.
The Legacy of the Flyer
The Flyer was used three more times, progressively being controlled more and more successfully with each flight, but this illustrious machine was finally undone by a fickle gust of wind following its third flight (which covered 852 feet in 59 seconds). The resulting damage was irreparable (see below), but the Flyer had done its work, paving the way for the Wright brothers to refine their principles into a true aircraft in 1906. The design was sold, and – following a dispute in America that credited the Langley Aerodrome with the achievements of the Wright Flyer – the original 1903 Flyer then spent two decades in the London Science Museum.
The Wright Flyer in Britain
The Flyer was preserved in Britain throughout the Second World War, but in the aftermath the Smithsonian Institution in America finally reversed their opinion of the Langley Aerodrome, hailing the Wright Flyer as the first powered and piloted aircraft, and so the Flyer returned to its home shores. Its legacy in Britain lived on though, and a replica still resides in the Science Museum to this day. Furthermore, some of the original muslin wing cloth from the 1903 Wright Flyer is now being incorporated into each and every one of Bremont’s new limited edition watches (see below, alongside the original aircraft on display).
The Bremont Wright Flyer
Bremont have made it their trademark to incorporate true pieces of history within their most remarkable wristwatches, but they have outdone themselves with the Wright Flyer. We have three different variations of this extraordinary chronometer available for pre-order – the Bremont Wright Flyer white gold watch, retailing for £30,950, the Bremont Wright Flyer rose gold watch, costing £27,950, and the Bremont Wright Flyer stainless steel watch, priced at £17,950 – and you can learn more about the specifications of this wristwatch in our second feature about this horological marvel.
If you’d like to get in touch with our staff team concerning the Wright Flyer, or indeed any of our other Bremont watches, don’t hesitate to contact us now by calling 01524 38 48 58 or emailing [email protected]. We’ll always be happy to help with your enquiry.
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