Along with the new ALT1-ZT/51 watch, British Bremont has announced another update to their lineup, with a new dial option for their bestselling MBII model. The new Bremont MBII-WH sports a crisp white dial with black markers and hands, offering a recognizable but entirely different look and feel for this well-known, aviation-inspired design. The MBII, designed in a partnership with the ejection seat manufacturer Martin Baker, has become a calling card for Bremont. Over the past few years, they have slowly introduced new models and variations into the MB range, including the MBIII, a GMT version launched at Baselworld 2014.
The Bremont MBII-WH is the first with a non-black dial and, much like Bremont’s white-dialed SOLO, the white dial is an excellent fit for the MBII design and is arguably more legible than its black-dialed counterparts. The successful MBII form factor is unchanged, with the white dial model retaining the 43mm Trip-Tick hardened steel case, multi-layer anti-reflective coated sapphire crystal and your choice of aluminum middle case section in orange, green or anthracite.
Also unchanged is the battery of tests the MBII must survive on its way to production. As you can imagine, the stresses of being ejected from a aircraft offer an ideal environment to develop a watch that is resistant to shock, temperature extremes, and troublesome vibrations. The MBII is partly where Bremont’s “Tested Beyond Endurance” ethos came from, with the watch required to survive not only ejection (impressive) but also rapid substantial changes in pressure (both positive and negative) and humid environments like that on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Temperature testing spans -40C to +40C for prolonged intervals and MBs must also be capable of surviving an MFOS crash test (Multi-functional Operators Seat, used in some military helicopters), which generates some 18G.
This resistance to shock and vibration is thanks to a flexible shock absorbing inner case ring that supports the movement. Surrounding this system is an inner case layer made of soft iron to provide magnetic protection. The well-protected movement in question is Bremont’s BE-36AE. Essentially a Bremont-modified ETA 2836, the 4Hz BE-36AE offers day-date along with 40 hours power reserve and COSC certification.
As an owner of a lovely white-dialed SOLO (reviewed here), I am thrilled to see Bremont add another white dial to their line up and I really like the way that the mostly black hour hand pops over the white dial. Also, with Bremont being a British manufacturer, it seems fitting that their most popular aviation chronometer be offered with a white dial and arabic numerals. The Bremont MBII-WH carries a list price of $5,495 USD, and we’ll be sure to go hands-on next month at Baselworld 2016. bremont.com
