Heritage, pride and quality craftsmanship: these values sit right at the very heart of the Bremont brand. Here at Banks Lyon we echo that pride in being official stockists of Bremont watches and are delighted to showcase a selection of timepieces created with those values inherent in every single one.
Brothers in Arms
One of the most astonishing facts about the Bremont brand is its relative youth in an industry where longevity is usually seen as a mark of quality – something to be relied upon, even.
Formed in 2002 amidst a backdrop of uncertainty in the British manufacturing industry – this was the same year that the very last Fiesta was made at the Ford plant in Dagenham, ending 90 years of British car production – two brothers, Nick and Giles English, from Huntingdon, made the brave decision to follow their dream and start their own watchmaking business.
As with all illustrious brands, the passion for the product was fostered from an early age by their father Euan, who would often bring his young sons a clock from auctions he’d visited with the challenge to get it working again.
A talented engineer with a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering, Euan English was passionate about flying and his career with the RAF. This, and his love of watches and mechanical timepieces, was to have a strong influence on his two sons.
Sadly, in March 1995, Euan English lost his life in a catastrophic accident whilst on a practice flight, instilling in Nick and Giles the notion that time is too precious to waste.
The decision to pursue their love of mechanical watches, inspired by their passion for aviation, and launch their own watch-making business was made.
From a Field in France to Henley on Thames
Far from deterring the English brothers from ever getting into a plane again, the tragic event and their late father’s motto of “One life; live it”, left Nick and Giles determined to embrace life’s adventures and continue flying. It was on one such occasion that they were forced to make an emergency landing whilst flying over France.
Keen to avoid the usual punishment of an impounded aircraft, a 1930s bi-plane, by the authorities, the brothers were grateful to accept the help of a French farmer, owner of their makeshift landing strip.
There is certainly an echo of poetic fate in the origins of the Bremont brand and so it’s of no surprise that the French farmer happened to not only be a talented engineer himself but was also a former pilot during the war. It is difficult not to draw parallels with the brothers’ late father and, naturally, just like Euan English, the farmer Antoine Bremont had a love of mechanical devices and still wore his own father’s treasured wristwatch. Nick and Giles decided to name their business after him as a tribute to his kindness and hospitality. The brand was born.
This incredible story is described in a graphical representation on our main website.
Time Takes Time
Although the business launched in 2002, it was five years before the first watch was actually produced. This can be explained by the brothers’ admirably fastidious approach to their craft: “To do it properly is immensely complicated. In watchmaking, you can’t rush anything”. Giles told The Telegraph in 2014.
Not only did they want their watches to be of the highest quality and showcase their technical advances, it was important that their watches are British made; pride in British engineering, inspired by their father, meant the brand had the added challenge of competing with Swiss-made products.
Whilst Swiss-made components are used, all Bremont watches are hand-built here in the UK, showcasing expert British craftsmanship at the dedicated premises in Henley on Thames. And Bremont watches are not just watches – they are chronometers. They undergo a rigorous precision-testing process which enables them to carry an official rate certificate from the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres), which guarantees the highest standards in accuracy of time-keeping and reliability of movement. They provide a method of keeping time with an unsurpassed degree of accuracy and advanced capability fit for the modern world.
The Bremont U-2 51 Jet Pilot Watch
Celebrating their late father’s connection with and love of military aviation, this exquisite watch is inspired by the RAF 100’s project to commemorate their centenary and their Hawk T1 Jet Aircraft. New for 2018, it also draws upon inspiration from earlier U-2 models which had been specifically designed and developed for elite military squadrons.
Picking up on the fact that the 100 Squadron was created as the first to be specifically for night bombing, the new case and middle barrel colour is captivatingly offset by the blue heat-treated steel hands. The tinted black smoked glass case at the back provides a glimpse of the delicate and beautifully-crafted automatic movement inside.
This automatic self-winding watch, with a 38-hour power reserve, boasts water resistance to 10 ATM, 100 metres, and Bremont’s signature hardened stainless steel case with its DLC Trip-Tick guarantees accuracy and durability with stunning design.
The Bremont Supermarine S301 Vintage Strap Watch
The inspiration for this remarkable range of timepieces is drawn from one of Britain’s most iconic aircraft, the Spitfire, the prototype of which – the Type 300 – was developed by the 1930s aircraft company, Supermarine.
This model features a slim 40mm case which fulfils the demands for a professional dive watch with a more manageable dimension, further enhanced by being just 13mm from sapphire crystal to case back and is water resistant to 300m.
The Limited Edition Bremont Supermarine Endurance Watch
Strictly limited to just 300 hand-made pieces, this exclusive watch is influenced by the English brothers’ love of adventure and pays homage to Shackleton’s infamous and heroic expedition that led to him rescuing his crew when his ship Endurance got caught up in crushed sea ice.
With an astonishing 42-hour power reserve, this watch is capable of water resistance to 500m and features a striking orange NATO strap with additional rubber Temple Island strap. The bi-directional rotating sapphire bezel has orange compass heading markers, reflecting the North indicator on the GMT hand, which are stylishly designed to contrast with the black dial. Perfect for expeditions for the adventurer needing to navigate.
You can read more about the Limited Edition Bremont Supermarine Endurance watch in our blog.
The Future
Since its modest beginnings, the Bremont brand has gone from strength to strength, designing and developing stunning timepieces with an accuracy and capability that blends a regard for history and heritage, with robust modernity and exclusive style that will last.
Bremont reported global sales of £14.03m in 2016, proving they are meeting the needs of a discerning and demanding consumer. And, whilst this is clearly something to be proud of, Nick English’s definition of success is “Getting to a destination whilst looking back and having thoroughly enjoyed the journey in getting there”, as told to The Walpole.
For Giles and Nick, the innovation continues with the newest addition to their range, available now. The Limited Edition “Waterman” Supermarine watch retains the features of the Supermarine range so revered by explorers and military units alike but has been tested in the most extreme of ocean environments.
Satin and polished steel is beautifully contrasted with the deep blue indexes to bring a stunning watch with the very latest in engineering, bringing an extension to the already popular Supermarine collection. This exclusive watch is limited to just 300 pieces so order now to guarantee one of these truly stunning chronometers.
There’s a certain irony in that the inspiration behind this British brand that specialises in measuring time was borne out of an appreciation of how precious time actually is. Far from being an indicator of the time we have left though, Bremont watches enable us to measure with the highest degree of accuracy exactly how we spend and celebrate that most precious of commodities. This message was instilled in the brothers throughout their lives by their late father Euan and there can be no greater tribute than that.
The Bremont watches featured here – along with a whole range of their products – are available to view in store or online. If you require any further information about our range of Bremont watches, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us or visit us in store for the full Banks Lyon experience.