Henley-based luxury watchmakers Bremont may be comparatively young in the industry, but an unwavering dedication to British engineering and endurance, and proclivity towards bold, elegant design, has fuelled a rapid ascent. That trajectory continues with the introduction of the Bremont Broadsword Bronze, bolstering the military-minded Armed Forces Collection introduced last year following an official partnership with Britain’s Ministry of Defence.
The link with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces has made Bremont the sole luxury watch producer ordained to use the signs, symbols, and Heraldic Badges of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force furthering the brand’s position amongst the top tool watch manufacturers in the world.
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The military connection was already commemorated with the introduction of the Armed Forces Collection, shortly after the partnership was inked, introducing three timepieces – the Broadsword, Arrow, and Argonaut – created in the image of the original ‘Dirty Dozen’ watches which were commissioned by the British Army during World War II. The new Broadsword Bronze expands upon that legacy, conceptually designed to bring the collection even closer, in particular, to naval history.
Central to this new iteration of the Broadsword is its two-piece case, made of CuSn8 bronze – an alloy of solid solution strengthened copper with 8 per cent tin – echoing the mix historically used by naval engineers to protect ships against the corrosive effect of saltwater. Here, the alloy adds to the 40mm wide case’s strength, wear and resistance, complemented by a screw-down crown for water resistance up to 100 metres.
As with the other expressions of the Armed Forces Collection, the timepiece’s 316L closed stainless steel case back features embossed detailing with the heraldry of all three armed forces, as well as text reading “Approved by Her Majesty’s Armed Forces”. The chronometer is rated for a modified calibre 11 ½” BE-95-2AV with a 38-hour power reserve and 28,808bph. That aligns it exactly with the original Broadsword, except its bronze counterpart is distinguished by the ‘living’ bronze case, which ensures a unique patina, ageing each watch in harmony with its wearer.
Three different dial and strap variations have been made available for the Broadsword Bronze pieces spanning ‘Slate’, the military-green/teal ‘Sotel’, and ‘Tobacco’, all sporting a date window at the three o’clock position, as well as a sub-seconds hand at six o’clock with multiple layers of Super-LumiNova on both the dial and hands to complete the original specification for the British Army.
In continuing to align with the Ministry of Defence, the Broadsword Bronze only serves as a reminder of how essential Bremont has become to the revival of the British watchmaking industry. And it’s this strong sense of identity that makes it wholly appropriate for them to offer wearers a timepiece that ages with them, folding into their own individual story.
All three colour options for the Bremont Broadsword Bronze are now available in Australia with an RRP of $5,000 AUD.
