Jewellery & Watch News
Aviation has been a core part of Bremont’s DNA ever since their founding in 2002, and in the two decades since, the British watchmaker has honoured countless historic planes in a range of special edition pilot’s watches. For their latest, Bremont remembers the jet-powered, tail-less, delta-wing, high altitude, strategic bomber known as the Avro Vulcan, now forever immortalised within the new Bremont Vulcan Limited Edition watch.
The Avro Vulcan is known for being one of the most iconic aircrafts in the RAF’s history, operated from 1956 to 1984 by RAF pilots. It was the second of the Royal Air Forces ‘V bombers’ and alongside the Valiant and Victor, provided part of Great Britain’s nuclear deterrent force for fifteen years. Powered by four Rolls-Royce Olympus engines, which gave it a top speed of over 600 miles per hour and a range of electronic and defensive systems to protect it against enemy attack, the aircraft had impressive capabilities. While the aircraft was retired from service in 1984, many still consider it one of the most important machines in British aviation history. As a long-standing partner of His Majesty’s Armed Forces, Bremont celebrates the iconic Vulcan as part of a new limited edition timepiece. The Bremont Vulcan watch forms part of Bremont’s Armed Forces collection, a popular series born out of a partnership with the British Military of Defence.
Bremont Co-Founder Giles English comments on the Bremont Vulcan watch: “The Vulcan’s legacy as a symbol of British military power and technological innovation continues to be celebrated today, and it remains one of the most iconic aircraft of the Cold War era. As aviators ourselves, celebrating such remarkable aircraft and feats of engineering is truly inspirational and it’s fitting to incorporate these commemorative pieces within our Armed Forces Collection through Bremont’s partnership with the MoD.”
The Bremont Armed Forces watch collection features three core models: the Broadsword, Argonaut and Arrow. The latter is used as the base for the new Bremont Vulcan Limited Edition but you’ll notice there’s some new design details synonymous with the historic aircraft. For starters, the stainless steel closed case back is engraved with an image of the Avro B-1 Bomber and the heraldic badge of the Royal Air Force encircled with the inscription: ‘Approved by Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. Bremont has confirmed that once the crests of His Majesty’s Armed Forces have been decreed, all case backs within Bremont’s Armed Forces collection will be updated accordingly.
The case of the Bremont Vulcan watch measures to 42mm in diameter and is engineered from MoD hardened stainless steel. The bezel is left fixed and smooth while a screw down crown at 3 o’clock ensures a 100 metre water resistant rating. Beneath sapphire crystal glass, the dial presents several tributes to the Vulcan aircraft including a a two-toned three-dimensional camouflage design on the running seconds subsidiary dial and a nuclear symbol on the elapsed minute counter. The rest of the dial is finished in matte black and ensures effortless legibility thanks to generous amounts of Superluminova adorned on the hands and numerals. This is the first time Bremont has ever used skeletonised cathedral-shaped hour and minute hands on a watch and the result is breathtaking. You’ll also spot a RAF blue chronograph seconds hand and a date window at 6 o’clock.
Powering the Bremont Vulcan Limited Edition is the automatic winding BE51AE movement which offers chronometer-certification, a power reserve of 56 hours and monopusher chronograph functionality controlled by the pusher at 2 o’clock. The full list of functionality includes central hands for the hours, minutes and chronograph seconds, small seconds at 9 o’clock, 30 minutes counter at 9 o’clock and date at 6 o’clock. Completing the Bremont Vulcan watch is a choice of two straps, both are sailcloth straps with stainless steel pin buckles. The first is a light RAF blue strap and the second is a special camouflage strap inspired by the stealthy pattern seen on some Vulcan aircrafts. With the order of every 250-piece limited edition watch, you’ll also receive a pair of silver cufflinks crafted into the shape of the Vulcan aircraft. The cufflinks themselves incorporate a small part of aluminium sourced from the original airframe of the Avro Vulcan XH558 ‘Spirit of Great Britain’, the final Vulcan in military service.
If you’d like to learn more about the new Bremont Vulcan watch and secure one of the 250 limited edition pieces for yourself, head over to the C W Sellors website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at sales@cwsellors.com.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 42mm
- Case Material: MoD hardened stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Screwed down with special engraving
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: BE51AE automatic winding
- COSC: Yes
- Functions: Hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph seconds, 30 minutes counter, date
- Power Reserve: 56 hours
- Jewels: 27
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Matte black with skeleton cathedral hands, Superluminova hands and numerals, camouflage and nuclear pattern on subsidiary dials, RAF blue chronograph seconds hand
- Strap: Sailcloth in RAF blue or camouflage
- Buckle: Pin, stainless steel
- RRP: £4,295
- Reference: VULCAN-R-S
- Limited Edition: 250 pieces
