Bremont have this pleasant little video on their website explaining their collaboration with Boeing.
Worth watching if you have a moment. It gives a little more sense to the relationship.
Tag Archives: Boeing Model 1
BREMONT UNVEILS NEW TITANIUM BOEING TIMEPIECES
BREMONT UNVEILS NEW TITANIUM BOEING TIMEPIECES WITH ADDED GMT FUNCTIONALITY
Much of Bremont’s DNA is deeply rooted in aviation. Co-Founders Nick and Giles English, both pilots themselves, set out to make high quality watches of classic design durable enough to withstand any pressures an aviator’s timepiece may endure. 2014 saw Bremont announce a partnership with an aerospace giant, The Boeing Company. Nick English explains, “Boeing is arguably the most famous aircraft company of all time and one of the world’s most innovative engineering leaders. With its one hundred years of aerospace achievement, Boeing’s history reads like the annals of aviation.” Having seen a fantastic response to the debut Model 1 and Model 247 timepieces Bremont is delighted to be presenting further additions to the range at Baselworld 2015.
Through the partnership with Boeing, a world leader in material research, Bremont now works closely with The Advanced Material Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield to develop exclusive new manufacturing processes. Nick English sums up the two organisations as ‘an incredible dichotomy’. The first watches in the Bremont Boeing range, the Model 1 and Model 247, are characteristically Bremont in design but use highly durable aviation-grade materials never used before in watch manufacture. The Bremont Boeing range is an exciting collaboration between three industry front-runners using cutting edge expertise and engineering excellence to celebrate the rich history and continued leadership in innovation synonymous with the Boeing brand.
Working with Boeing’s material research expertise and AMRC’s development of advanced manufacturing processes, Bremont has set a new standard in aviation timepieces. Using inventive and more modern materials, the Bremont Boeing Model 1 and Model 247 are stunning advanced designs that act as classic tributes to an earlier era in Boeing’s rich history. The clean design of the Model 1 timepiece reflects the early simplicity of Boeing’s very first aircraft design whilst the Model 247 was inspired by Boeing’s progressive twin-engined Model 247 airliner from the 1930s. Developing these designs further has led to the introduction of the new Bremont Boeing Model 1 and Model 247 Titanium GMT timepieces, manufactured from Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4. This is a special titanium that is significantly stronger than commercial titanium and used widely in both airframes and engine components.
This is the first time that Bremont will be offering lightweight aviation grade titanium cases in any of its core range pieces. New GMT functionality in these Boeing models extends the current range and also responds to a demand led by the flying fraternity, an important addition for any serious pilot. Taking forward the GMT success already exhibited in select Bremont ranges, these Boeing timepieces feature a very clear GMT hand, using a tried and tested format seen on the Terra Nova. Designed for absolute clarity and legibility, white SuperLumiNova® hands stand out against a black (Model 1) or dark grey (Model 247) base dial with highly visible applied indexes also using SuperLumiNova®. The signature Boeing ‘tick’, a nod to the aerospace company’s logo, can also be found at the end of the centre seconds (Model 1) and chronograph seconds (Model 247) hands. Whilst the original Bremont Boeing watches incorporate a sapphire bezel, these GMT models feature an anthracite ceramic bezel with highlighted minute markers signalling the first time Bremont has used ceramic in any of its watches to date. The beautifully finished automatic movements in these GMT watches are protected in Bremont’s anti-shock movement mount, all finished in Boeing blue and visible through the exhibition case backs.
Nick English, Bremont Co-Founder; “It’s fantastic to be working with a company like Boeing and the response we have had from the introduction of the Bremont Boeing range of watches last year was very special. This year, having again worked hard on the technical specification with Boeing, the new GMT models were born. The beautifully simple clarity of the dial, twinned with the lighter aviation grade titanium case and the ceramic bezel, means that we have achieved everything we set out to do with these wonderful timepieces. We’ve only just begun in terms of what the two companies can do together and there will be a lot more exciting projects to come, particularly surrounding Boeing’s upcoming centenary year.”
THE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING RESEARCH CENTRE WITH BOEING
The AMRC with Boeing was set up to identify, research and resolve advanced manufacturing, machining and material challenges. Nick English described the benefit to Bremont: “We wanted the watches to be special and unique within our range whilst adhering to our core principles like longevity, robustness and the aviation DNA that runs through our brand. When we talked to the AMRC we fell in love with what they were doing. They are about being as efficient as you can with manufacturing processes, and they’re spending a lot of time on the materials. This is a very interesting thing for us as a brand and enabled us to start experimenting on what we could do with these watches. The end result was us designing a watch and using AMRC’s expertise on the materials and the manufacturing process.”
Bremont joined the AMRC as a research member but soon took the partnership further: “We realised that AMRC are very focused on similar things to us. For example, they’re very passionate about bringing back manufacturing to the UK which is something Bremont is devoted to. We are based at Henley-on-Thames and have a facility for making parts in Silverstone. All our watches are assembled here in the UK.” To further this aim and bring back as much watch manufacturing to British shores as possible, Bremont created a role at AMRC for a PhD research student to work at the Centre and investigate watch parts and movement manufacturing processes. As Nick concludes, “The relationship has become a lot deeper than we first thought possible, which is really wonderful”.
THE HISTORY OF BOEING
Not many companies can lay claim to be launching into their second century, but aerospace giant Boeing is looking forward to celebrating its centenary in 2016. When Bill Boeing saw a piloted flying machine for the first time in 1909, it launched a curiosity for flight that would one day make him a household name. He purchased and learned to fly an aircraft in 1915 but realised he could manufacture an improved version to his own design. That first instinct – to Build Something Better –lay at the heart of every advance by the company from that time through its first 100 years.
In June 1916 Bill Boeing built his very first aircraft, the Model 1 seaplane, and decided to make aviation his business. Boeing designed, manufactured and sold seaplanes to the US Navy during World War One. The end of the conflict marked a lean spell for aircraft production so the company switched to making furniture to survive until the market became more buoyant. The 1920s saw Boeing produce seaplanes, military fighters and mail-planes, with the Boeing Airplane Company fast becoming a leading light in a rapidly developing aviation industry. By 1938 Boeing opened up world travel with legendary aircraft like the Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat, carrying Pan-Am passengers on transoceanic routes. During World War Two, European skies saw the silhouettes of thousands of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. William Boeing passed away in 1956 but lived long enough to see the company he founded enter the jet age.
Up close with Bremont’s Baselworld launches – Salon QP
Up close with Bremont’s Baselworld launches | Salon QP
<!– –>
This year at Baselworld, Bremont was all about core collection watches: no limited editions
here,
though the Jaguar MKI, by dint of its BWC/01-10 movement, will no doubt be limited
in production.
There was one very significant announcement away from the core watches, however:
the appointment
of a new technical director, Stephen McDonnell. While McDonnell will be unknown to most,
his CV reads like a roll-call of cutting-edge Swiss brands, including MB&F,
Christophe Claret,
Maitres du Temps and Speake-Marin, where he specialised in the design and
prototyping of new
movements. An Oxford grad and alumnus of WOSTEP, McDonnell is
returning from Switzerland to work full time for Bremont.
On with the watches, starting with two new additions to the Boeing line, both in titanium and both
with GMT functions: the Model 1 Ti-GMT and the Model 247 Ti-GMTchronograph
. 
There is, of course, thematic sense in adding GMT functions to a watch line associated
with the world’s most famous aircraft manufacturer. Accordingly, a 24 hour ring has
been inserted around the edge of the dial on both watches, along with a prominent yellow
GMT hand. While the non-GMT Boeing chronographs have two subdials in “bi-compax”
formation, the GMT version introduces a third chronograph hours dial, in a 6-9-12
arrangement, as on Bremont’s Alt1-B and Alt1-Z (see below). For the lightweight cases,
Bremont has used Boeing aviation-grade Ti-6-4 titanium, an extra-strong form of the metal.
Besides anthracite grey dials to go with the dull tones of the lightweight titanium case,
the GMT models have also been upgraded with grey ceramic bezels – the first time
Bremont has used the material – with minute markers.
The Bremont Boeing Model 1 Ti-GMT is £4,295. The Boeing Model 247 Ti-GMT is £4,995.
Next up, Bremont has introduced a new model in its U-2 range, based on one of the company’s
recent military projects. This is the U-22.
This sees the U-2, with a case notable for its dual crowns (the lower of which is for operating
the rotating inner bezel) gain a grey dial and a wider, 3-digit date opening, as found on recent
IWC pilot’s watches among others. Apparently this has been requested by pilots, since it
recalls cockpit dashboard instrumentation. The rotating inner bezel has been changed from a
60 second counter to a compass quadrant, useful (according to Bremont) for navigation
weather mapping. Meanwhile, the bronze barrel colour that appeared rather magnificently
in last year’s MBIII makes an appearance again.
The Bremont U-22 is £3,695.
We wrote previously about Bremont’s new family of Jaguar watches, the Jaguar MKI
and MKII. Having unveiled six watches last year, co-designed with Jaguar for the
launch of the car legend’s new lightweight E-Types, Bremont has now extended the
design into its core range in steel, including both time-only and chronograph models.
We can report that, in the metal, these watches are really rather stunning. The domed
sapphire crystal and curvaceous case, in particular, mark something of an elegant
departure for Bremont, and we’re all for it.
The MKII chronograph carries Bremont’s customarily upgraded version of the Valjoux
7750 movement, while the MKII contains the BWC-01 proprietary movement developed
in collaboration with La Joux-Perret. On both watches, the rotors have been made to
resemble Jaguar E-Type steering wheels (though without quite the level of adornments,
including wooden parts, that were found in last year’s high-luxe limited editions). 
The Bremont Jaguar MKI is £8,450. The Bremont Jaguar MKII is £4,950.
Lastly, Bremont has updated one of its most successful and longest-running watches, the Alt1-Z Zulu.
What was previously a distinctly busy, even rather hectic, dial, has been simplified, streamlined
and smartened up. This is the Alt1-ZT (apologies we didn’t get a better picture yet). 
Numerals have been replaced by arrowed hour markers, the 24-hour GMT scale has been moved
from the dial to the rotating inner bezel, and the subdials have been given a calmer, uniform look
in keeping with the rest of the dial. It’s a surer, more sophisticated look compared to the Alt1-Z
that formed part of Bremont’s original collection in 2007, and together with the above watches,
shows a British brand that is, we think, maturing rather nicely. The Bremont Alt1-ZT is £4,795.
Bremont Boeing Model 1 Review
Here is a very comprehensive review from Timeless Luxury Watches of Texas.
Bremont has been making aviation-inspired watches since the very beginning, but 2014 marked the first time that Bremont and legendary aeronautics company Boeing collaborated on piece. Being able to design watches with and for Boeing is a major privilege for the English watchmaker and was never seen as an opportunity for a mere rebranding. Bremont could have taken one of their popular designs, like the Solo, and put some Boeing logos on it and a different color scheme and called it a day. Instead, not only are these not limited edition watches, but aside from the chronometer-grade movements, which they share with many other Bremonts, the watch is entirely new. What we see here, the Bremont Boeing Model 1, is the result of that thoughtful collaboration.
The Introduction
There are currently only two models of Bremont Boeing watches available today, the Model 1, which we are looking at today, and the chronograph variant, the Model 247. Each of those is available with two options: your choice of dial color, white or black, and your choice of case material and that’s perhaps the big story here. Boeing models can be had in either a proprietary Boeing steel alloy, 465, which is engineered to have excellent hardness and resistance to corrosion, or you can choose the super light, aviation grade Ti-64 titanium. I believe that this is the first use of either of these materials in the world of horology, and for the foreseeable future, only Bremont Boeing models will have these materials available.
The particular Bremont we have today, the Model 1 in black, has the 465 steel case, which is my preference. I like a little heft to my watches, especially when there’s no bracelet, and while Ti-64 should be very hard for titanium, it won’t be anywhere near as hard as this special stainless steel, so I appreciate the scratch resistance. The Model 1 features a bidirectional rotating bezel and screw down crown, but my favorite feature of this watch is the cool, propeller-esque crown guard at 4:00. I also appreciate the relatively austere dial which is not a major departure from other popular Bremonts like the Solo. But perhaps most of all, I enjoy how subtle the Boeing branding is. I’m not in aviation, so I admit upfront I may not appreciate the branding as much as some people who are, but I’m glad Bremont took this as an opportunity to collaborate on a watch, not really as a marketing vessel for the two brands. Indeed, you won’t see a single written reference to Boeing at all when worn on the wrist–it’s only on the caseback.
Like virtually all Bremont 3 handers, the BE-36AE is used, Bremont’s adaptation of the popular ETA 2836-2. It is, of course, chronometer grade, for guaranteed high accuracy, but more noteworthy is the amazing decoration that Bremont uses. It’s easily one of the prettiest ETA movements I’ve ever seen, to the degree you almost don’t even recognize it. Also worth paying attention is to the anti-shock mount that surrounds the movement. This helps insulate the movement from trauma, which not only reduces the chance of breakage but may even increase the accuracy by mitigating the effect of vibration throughout your daily life.
The Face
Just to be straightforward, I think the Boeing Model 1, in either dial color, is the best looking production watch Bremont has ever made. It really elegantly captures what Bremont is all about.
I particularly like the bi-directional sapphire crystal bezel. Like every Bremont I’ve tried, it has really solid and clear detents but it’s a little lower effort than their divers, which is a subtle, but positive, change in my opinion. The pip is lumed, but I would have loved to see all the markers lumed–that would have given a brilliant display at night. I also like how narrow the bezel it is. The dial is maximized at the cost of bezel space, but I think that’s a good tradeoff.
The black dial (as well as the white) is of the matte variety and is an excellent proving ground for Bremont’s bilateral anti-reflective coating. Black dials pose all sorts of additional concerns for photography because the glare is normally so bad. I usually compensate by using a black canopy which can have its own negative side effects. In this case, not only did the AR coating lack the blue hue associated with some AR coatings, but it was so good I didn’t use a specialized canopy at all, which is why you can see a little bit of the white ceiling reflecting back. Very impressive.
The watch is extremely high legibility, even more so than the white dial. The blue lume is white in decent lighting and it, along with the white Arabic numerals and lumed markers, stand in stark contrast to the matte black dial.
The blue lume is pretty bright as well, although don’t expect diver-esque portions. It’s more than adequate, however.
Again, the Model 1 is actually an exercise in subtlety, and not just in the sense of being versatile. Notice that there is not a single mention of the Boeing collaboration anywhere on the face of the watch. The only hint is the subtle tip of the seconds hand, derived from the Boeing logo. The whole effort just feels more sincere to me than many other collaborations within the watch industry where a logo is thrown onto the dial and maybe a special color is used for the hands and that’s the whole effort.
The Case
The biggest story in the Model 1 is the case, or more specifically, what it’s made of. For the first time ever, as far as I can tell anyway, Boeing’s proprietary 465 stainless steel is used, which is supposed to be both harder and more corrosion resistant than other steels on the market. For those who prefer a lighter watch, Ti-64 aviation grade titanium will be available. For my money, I prefer this still, but it’s nice to have two unique options.
In addition to good metallurgy, I really love the crown guard on the Model 1 (sadly, due to the chronograph pushers, not available on the 247). In terms of shape, it reminds me of their propeller logo and just looks really cool. I also like how the off-centered crown looks on this watch–no particular reason, I just think it works here.
Also of note is the Trip-Tick construction which allows Bremont to choose three different elements to construct each case. In this instance, the black barrel is a cool, eye catching addition.
My only criticism of the crown guard is that, as you can see, it’s sealed from the top, meaning that when you set the watch, you actually have to grab the crown from below which can be a bit awkward.
Still, worth it to have this cool little sculpture that is actually molded from the lug of the watch and meets an additional component halfway.
Aside from the cool crown guard and narrow bidirectional rotating bezel, the 43mm Model 1 is not a major departure from other Bremont watches, which is probably a good thing since Bremont is one of the most respected case makers and designers around. For me personally, a man of 5 feet 10 inches, I might prefer it to be a hair smaller, maybe 41mm, but the size difference wouldn’t keep me away from it, particularly since this is a dedicated sports watch.
The Movement
I normally don’t do a movement section for watches with ETA movements, not because they’re inferior, but because there’s such a wealth of information about them already that I’m not really contributing much. Bremont does primarily use ETA movements but puts their own spin on them. Many Bremonts have solid case backs so you can’t appreciate their contribution, but here it’s all on display.
As you can see, there is an extremely thorough and beautiful perlage across almost every available piece of the movement. At first glance, you won’t even recognize this as an ETA movement.
That impressive decoration, as well as the Bremont-made skeletonized rotor, unique to Boeing models, transform the ETA 2836-2 into the BE-36AE you see here. Virtually all Bremont movements are chronometer grade, and this is no exception, so the performance ought to be on par with most other Swiss chronometers and well within the +6/-4 seconds per day rating.
I also want to point out the anti-shock mount that surrounds the movement. This helps to insulate the delicate movement from shocks and trauma which not only makes the movement more durable against impacts, but may even help prevent timekeeping instability caused by everyday vibrations (through your steering wheel, your shopping cart and so on).
The Video
Check out the Bremont Model 1 in high-definition with our newest video.
The Conclusion
I have a new favorite from the Bremont collection–the Model 1. Without a doubt, the Model 1 would be my first choice in a new production Bremont.
Would I choose the white dial or the black dial though? Stainless steel or titanium? Well, I’ve already tackled the materials issue–I’d go with the Boeing steel, but the dial color question is much more difficult. Initially I found the white dial more appealing, but having spent a little more time with the black dial, it’s harder to say. I think right now, I’d have to side with the white dial, but I need to get both in hand before I can make that decision. I can say that, although the Model 247 Chronograph is very cool, I actually prefer the simpler Model 1. It’s more distinct to me–it has that cool crown guard, and I like its relatively subtle design. This could easily be an everyday watch.
I love being able to see the movement and anti-shock mount. I don’t care that it’s an ETA at heart, it’s just gorgeous, particularly with those bold blue accents.
The Model 1 got a bit overshadowed by the super popular Terra Nova, but I actually think this is the one to be paying attention to. For one, the Terra Nova is a limited edition, so it won’t have a lasting impact on Bremont’s lineup. But I also think the Model 1 is just prettier, and I appreciate being able to see the movement. It’s really a great example of how to do a collaboration watch instead of a hollow marketing exercise.