There’s a Britishness sitting at the heart of everything Bremont does that enables the brand to proudly stand apart from its contemporaries in the watchmaking world. Drawing inspiration from the seemingly endless procession of stiff-upper-lipped adventurers and explorers emanating from the United Kingdom throughout history, Bremont’s tool watches have an acute focus on empowering those who wear them in the field, and they do so while maintaining a certain charmingly rugged elegance that is in itself intrinsically British.
Operating the UK’s only end-to-end watch manufacturing facility—’The Wing’ located in Henley-on-Thames—has enabled Bremont to hone, refine, and master the horological craft. From prototyping and assembly to testing and servicing, Bremont’s headquarters was the first industrial watchmaking facility built in Great Britain for generations, and it has since become an unassailable beacon for watchmaking of the highest order.
Nothing more acutely embodies the incredibly high standard set by the output of ‘The Wing’ than Bremont’s Terra Nova range. Championed by brand ambassador Jimmy Chin and—if you ask us—anyone who knows the first thing about what makes a good field watch so essential, the Terra Nova models set the standard by which other field watches should be judged.
To discover more about this inherently British field watch, let’s first take a look at the limited-edition newcomer to Bremont’s range and then some of our particular favourites from the impeccable Terra Nova catalogue.
NOTE: Anyone tempted by one of these outstanding timepieces can make an appointment at Bremont’s Melbourne boutique, and your purchase will include an additional NATO strap for free.
Terra Nova 40.5 Date ‘Caramel’
- Brand: Bremont
- Model: Terra Nova 40.5 Date ‘Caramel’
- Ref: TN40-DT-SS-BR-L-S
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Movement: Modified Calibre 11 1/2’’’ BE-36AE
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Water-Resistance: 100 metres
- Price: AUD$5,150
It should come as no surprise that this limited edition of just 100 pieces is pure, classic Bremont down to its very bones. Boasting a contemporary, geometrical 40.5mm cushion case constructed from 904L stainless steel and completed with a combination of brushed and polished finishes, it’s a perfect summation of the Bremont aesthetic.
The vintage-inspired ‘Caramel’ gradient dial features oversized 3D numerals cut in full-block Super-LumiNova for enhanced legibility in low-light conditions, and the Super-LumiNova continues across the indexes on the broken railroad minute track as well as the watch’s vintage-inspired hands. Those large numerals are balanced by a similarly oversized crown—a nod to an era in which gloved hands needed to be able to operate the crown—while Bremont’s new ‘The Wayfinder’ logo takes centre stage on the dial, flying the flag for the brand’s love for adventure and exploration.
With a timeless brown leather strap to complete the picture, this limited-edition Terra Nova model combines gritty functionality and a charmingly rough-hewn elegance, making it an instant classic.
Terra Nova 40.5 Turning Bezel Power Reserve
- Brand: Bremont
- Model: Terra Nova 40.5 Turning Bezel Power Reserve
- Ref: TN40-PWR-SS-BL-B
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Movement: Modified Calibre 11 1/2’’’ BE-79AL
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Water-Resistance: 100 metres
- Price: AUD$6,800
With a bi-directional compass bezel, power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock (tracking a 41-hour reserve), and small seconds sub-dial that acts as a reference to the heritage of vintage field watches, this may be a more complicated take on the Terra Nova blueprint, but it loses none of the classic styling we so appreciate with the 40.5 Date.
The gradient blue metal dial is every bit as timelessly elegant as the green, while the quick-release bracelet is crafted from the same 904L steel as the range’s stunning cushion case, carrying over the same combination of brushed and polished elements. The bracelet’s curved bars offer outstanding articulation, ensuring maximum fluidity and wearer comfort. Simply put, it’s another outstanding addition to the Bremont catalogue.
Terra Nova 42.5 Chronograph
- Brand: Bremont
- Model: Terra Nova 42.5 Chronograph
- Ref: Ref. TN42-CHR-SS-BK-N-S
- Diameter: 42.5mm
- Movement: Modified Calibre 13 1/4’’’ BE-50AV
- Power Reserve: 56 hours
- Water-Resistance: 100 metres
- Price: AUD$8,600
Inarguably the king of the Terra Nova kingdom, the 42.5mm Chronograph is a masterclass in field watch functionality. This two-counter chronograph is certainly the largest of Bremont’s Terra Nova range, and it wears its polished ceramic bi-directional compass bezel as a kind of superb royal crown.
The black anthracite metal dial acts as the perfect backdrop to those signature 3D vintage numerals—again sporting the range’s Super-LumiNova coating—while the colouring carries through to the fabric NATO strap, which is secured with an engraved steel buckle and self-gripping fastenings to ensure this elevated field watch remains secure no matter what you throw at it.
Terra Nova 38
- Brand: Bremont
- Model: Terra Nova 38
- Ref: Ref. TN38-ND-SS-WH-B
- Diameter: 38mm
- Movement: Modified Calibre 11 1/2’’’ BE-36AL
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Water-Resistance: 100 metres
- Price: AUD$5,050
Paring things back, this minimalist take on the Terra Nova design is a welcome addition to Bremont’s range of field watches. The British watchmaker describes it as “the Terra Nova in its purest form”, and we absolutely concur. In this smaller form factor, the watch is distilled down to the most essential elements, and this focus aligns perfectly with the spirit of the Bremont brand.
Here, the metal dial’s white finish beautifully accentuates the watch’s simplicity, while the oversized numerals, broken railroad minute track, and vintage-inspired hands (again, all coated in legibility-aiding Super-LumiNova) get to the very heart of what a watch like this is all about.
Terra Nova 40.5 Date
- Brand: Bremont
- Model: Terra Nova 40.5 Date
- Ref: Ref. TN40-DT-SS-GN-N-S
- Diameter: 40.5mm
- Movement: Modified Calibre 11 1/2’’’ BE-36AE
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Water-Resistance: 100 metres
- Price: AUD$4,950
We can’t wrap up this list without revisiting the 40.5 Date one more time. The green dial and brown leather strap pairing might be the line’s bestseller (and deservedly so), but we also have an undeniably strong affection for the green dial paired with this black and green fabric NATO strap.
Having seen this timepiece at Watches & Wonders earlier this year, it left an impression that we just can’t shake, so it has more than earned its inclusion on this list. On any given day, this would be a strong contender for our pick of the entire range. It’s just an outstanding example of a rugged, ready-for-anything timepiece that simultaneously maintains the sense of British elegance that’s so essential to the Bremont identity.
