This is a funny
business.
I have always loved
watches, and I was drawn to vintage because of their history, ageless quality
and beauty.
In the late 80’s the
watch business was just not trying very hard to produce any very cool watches.
By the late 90’s some old Brand names had been revitalised and the new watch
scene was becoming interesting. I started my original site in early 2002 and
from then I have moved on to be a ‘small ball – really small’ player in the
online vintage market.
Last year I started
speaking to some ‘new manufacturers’ that I thought were doing interesting
work. Two of them appreciated the online world and showed respect for what was
happening here, one being Linde Werdelin who I now represent, the other is
Bremont Watches whom I hope to represent.
Earlier this week I
met a guy called Nick English in a coffee bar in ’s Picadilly. We talked for just over an hour
about what I was doing and what his fledgling company started by him and his
brother were up to… I made my pitch and he liked the idea and we arranged for a
little more talk so as to flesh out an agreement.
When we left, he to a meeting
with one of Bremonts newly selected retailers and me to catch a train I can’t
help thinking that I was walking away more enriched for the encounter. That is
of course because in my briefcase I was carrying two of their show model
watches. One of them being the version that is due to be shipped off to the US
Navy Test Pilot School where it will be offered as a passing out gift.
See here: http://www.usntps.navy.mil/index.htm
Yes, a guy I met for
only an hour and previously had a couple of telephone conversations with gave
me two of his recently delivered babies. Now that ladies and gentlemen is
balls!
Ball park RRP in the UK will be between £1,900 and £2,950 with a Secret Special edition £4,000 version coming out later in the year. I will let you know about that one.
All chronometres.
US will be less 17.5% UK tax.
Enjoy!
Regards
Alistair
And here they are……. The
Bremont models Alt1-Z and Alt1-P.
This is the watch destined for the US Navy fighter school, it has their logo and the bonus of a GMT hand.
Bremont model Alt1-Z
See shot of the enamel top screw in crown, set so it finishes its position with the blades of the propeller horizontal. Neat!
The extra crown on this side sets the internal bezel that has a slight friction ratchet.
The movement is a 7750 that will be detailed with some beautiful engine turning and of course the excellent detailing of the cut outs of the rotor weight give a nod to aircraft engines.
The saphire crystal is double AR coated as you can see with the 'oil on water' refraction.
Strap is grey calf, bull cut with brushed butterfly deployment.
Below is the Bremont model Alt1-P
See the sunken push pin pusher for the date change in the side of the toughened PVD finish case.
Again a great shot of the component fit case. Shouldered pushers and mix of case finishes.
The internal bezel shot here shows just how deep the dial is...
I don't normally do 'wrist shots' but I have worn this all day and wanted to show the size. Think IWC Fliegger but nicer.
This watch comes on a Kevlar finshed strap
And finally a 'chocolate box shot to show how pretty it is against the sky.
These watches I believe are outstanding the dial seemed busy to me but like all complicated watches it takes time to adjust and the clarity of read is just great.
The process that goes in to making these watches, the case hardening, the various component finishes, the dials, the straps, the movement decoration and chronometre certification shows that these guys mean business.
Hell i want one, I haven't gone through the full specs of the watches as it is done much better on their website which is here:
http://www.bremont.com/index2.html
I would seriously like some feedback on what people think, we may have a deal but I would appreciate some comment please??
By the way here is Orlando Bloom wearing a cream dial version (ALT1-C)