Bremont‘s limited edition historical pieces have become a hallmark of the brand since they first launched the EP120 in 2010. Today, at the London Science Museum, Bremont announced their latest limited edition watch, the Bremont Wright Flyer, which boasts the inclusion of not only a piece of the first successful powered flying machine, but also Bremont’s first in-house movement. As a young brand with a deep passion for aviation, the Bremont Wright Flyer is a huge announcement for Bremont and a fitting platform for the launch of a new caliber that they refer to as their first manufacture movement.
After seeing last year’s Codebreaker and its impressive integration of a number of historical elements, we all wondered what Bremont could do to take this concept to a new level. Now in its fifth generation, the Bremont LEs are an excellent introduction to the brand and with the new Bremont Wright Flyer, the brand has returned to the original formula of paying tribute to a legend from the history of aviation. In fact, legend might be putting it too softly, this is genesis.
The Bremont Wright Flyer will incorporate a small piece of the muslin fabric actually used on the wings of the 1903 Wright Flyer – the first successful powered airplane. The fabric will be encased in the spinning mass of the rotor, allowing you to carry around a physical token to the roots of manned flight. The original 1903 wing cloth is exceedingly rare and has been provided by the Wright family to only a select few, including Neil Armstrong who had a piece in his pocket when he walked on the moon.
Following the example set by their past LE projects, proceeds from the Bremont Wright Flyer will be used to restore the Wright family home in Dayton, Ohio. If Bremont is a brand on your radar, you undoubtedly know that the English brothers that launched and run the brand are aviation buffs of the highest order. Here, Nick English speaks about the project and its connection to the Wright family:
“Giles and I still cannot believe that it’s happened. Holding the original and invaluable muslin used to cover the 1903 Wright Flyer is incredibly emotive. The Wright family has been wonderful to work with and it was inspiring to see their passion for the project. Does the creation of a special aviation-inspired watch really get any better than this? Probably not. The combination of this amazing material and our new BWC/01 movement has resulted in a truly mind-blowing timepiece.”
Thought we had forgotten about the watch, didn’t you? Well, the Bremont Wright Flyer features the brand’s signature 43 mm Trip-Tick case in steel, rose gold or white gold. The lovely vintage-aviation inspired design is bolstered by the inclusion of Bremont’s first in-house movement, the BWC/01. Bremont has not confirmed anything yet, but from a design perspective the so called in-house made Bremont caliber BWC/01 movement appears to be based on movements produced by the high-end Swiss watch movement maker La Joux-Perret, and it is further likely that Bremont worked with the prestigious house on the development of their caliber.
An automatic movement with 25 jewels, the BWC/01 has a power reserve in excess of 50 hours and operates at 28,800 vph. With bi-directional winding, a Glucydur balance, Nivarox balance spring and Nivaflex 1 mainspring, the BWC/01 is a modern movement that represents a big milestone for Bremont. The movement is signed “London” and many of its components are manufactured at Bremont HQ in Henley-on-Thames, England.
The dial design has a lovely old-world charm with vintage-effect lume, minimal dial text and a nicely contrasting seconds sub dial at nine. Both the main dial and sub dial have railway scales, a design we find on other Bremont models like the Supermarine S500 and the Codebreaker. Additionally, the seconds sub dial is signed “1903” as an additional nod to the Wright Brothers world-changing achievement.
The Bremont Wright Flyer versions are limited to 300 units in steel, 100 in rose gold and 50 for the white gold. Both gold models feature a white dial while the steel version comes with a black dial. With a display back and an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, total thickness is 14 mm and the Bremont Wright Flyer will come on an alligator strap with a matched metal pin buckle. Pricing has not yet been announced but we will update as soon as new information is available.
Encapsulating their distinctive designs along with literal pieces of history, Bremont’s limited editions represent not only their flagship offerings, but also a peek into the soul of the two brothers responsible for a manufacturer still very much on the rise. Having previously relied on third-party movements (mostly ETA), the Bremont Wright Flyer is a big step for Bremont as they continue to expand both their product line and technology. One thing is certain: they’ve definitely got their work cut out for them for next year. Prices for the Bremont Wright Flyer will be $25,950 for the model in steel, $39,995 for the one in rose gold and $44,995 for the yellow gold version. Bremont.com
[UPDATE 07-27-2014: We published a follow-up to this article: – The Real Story Behind The Bremont Wright Flyer In-House Made BWC/01 “London” Watch Movement. Ed.]