British watchmaker Bremont is keen to remind fans of luxury watches that Britain used to be a watchmaking powerhouse. Its mission is to re-establish that position and what better way to get that message out to the world than by working with the famed British car manufacturer Jaguar? To mark 70 years since Jaguar won at Le Mans, the two companies have collaborated on a stunning new model for Bremont’s Motorsports line. This latest release confirms what British watch enthusiasts have known for a while – British watchmaking is back. The Jaguar C-Type chronograph takes its inspiration from an iconic race car and takes Bremont a step closer to its mission.
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Ask someone to list their favourite British cars and they’ll no doubt mention Rolls Royce and Bentley, or rattle off a selection of iconic sports cars from Aston Martin and McLaren. Ask them to list British watch brands and the list is a lot shorter, even though at one point in the 1800s, half of the world’s watches were built in Britain. Even Rolex began life as a British company.
From its base in Henley-on-Thames, Bremont is determined to reinvigorate British watchmaking and, with a focus on aviation, military and motorsports models, is doing just that. This latest release is a handsome reverse panda-dial chronograph that takes its inspiration from the Jaguar C-Type, a sports car renowned for its exceptionally fluid shape and dominance at Le Mans.
Paying homage to the C-Type’s classic styling, the watch utilises a simple monochrome colour palette and features a host of small design cues that reference the car that took first, second and fourth at 1953s Le Mans.
The 43mm steel case mimics the C-Type’s silver-coloured chassis and the rotating tachymeter bezel, with its brushed finish, references the car’s famous disc brakes. It’s that attention to detail that makes this watch a winner.
The dial mirrors the C-Type’s gauges and features white gloss numerals and two white subdials in a bi-compax layout. The neat date window at 6 o’clock maintains the dial’s symmetry and just above it sits a heritage Jaguar logo. If that’s too subtle for you, turning the watch over reveals a decorative coin depicting a C-Type hood badge.
The Jaguar C-Type chronograph is powered by the brand’s BE-50AE movement, an ETA-based automatic calibre that is modified at The Wing, Bremont’s state-of-the-art 35,000 sq ft Manufacturing & Technology Centre. The Jaguar C-Type timepiece is individually hand assembled upon order and costs GBP £5,695.
Bremont Jaguar C-Type
Diameter: 43mm
Height: 15.8mm
Case: Stainless Steel
Movement: Modified Calibre 13 1/4’’’ BE-50AV
Strap: Black Leather Racing Strap
Water Resistance: 200M
Price: GBP £5,695
