From his turn as the unflappable Merlin in Kingsman: The Secret Service to his impossibly dapper spy in Grimsby, Mark Strong has long been among cinema’s most stylish actors and one whose Britishness is a core part of what makes him so. It’s fitting then that he should choose to partner with Bremont, a luxury watch brand that not only supplied all the timepieces for Kingsman: The Secret Service and whose CEO Nick English appeared as a Kingsman Knight in the film, but one that views being British as an essential element of its identity and leans into that with its new Supernova, Audley and Fury collections.
At a time when big players across countless industries are looking to cut corners, offshore manufacturing and sacrifice quality at the altar of the quick buck, Bremont is heading in the opposite direction. Entirely devoted to the idea of British timepieces made by British hands, 2021 saw Bremont open The Wing, a 35,000 sq. ft. manufacturing and technology centre located in Henley-on-Thames, England. From this ambitious facility, Bremont would go on to craft its ENG300 movement series, which sits at the heart of the three aforementioned timepiece collections.
Image: Bremont | Supernova
Quite remarkably, the ENG300 series marks the first time in 50 years that a mechanical movement has been built at scale on British shores. Crafted to Bremont’s unique specifications, each ENG300 is rigorously tested with all the complications fitted, reducing any potential for variance in performance. In fact, in a huge undertaking, Bremont has invested in a high-grade certification so movements like the ENG300 can be certified in the UK, rather than in Switzerland under the standard ISO certification.
Further, as one might expect from a brand with aviation deeply embedded in its DNA, the ENG300 within the Supernova boasts an anti-shock rubberised movement mount that helps it to stand up to ejection testing. That’s right, Bremont believes its movements should be able to withstand everything a pilot might come up against, which is why it really put the ENG300 through the wringer. Tests included a live ejection launch under extreme G forces and a simulated crash moving at 42ft per second, as well as extreme temperature tests that included exposure to a -40° Celsius for 24 hours and then +40° Celsius for another 24 hours. With testing that rigorous it’s easy to see why Bremont is confident enough to offer an extended warranty of five years for all ENG300 timepieces upon registration.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the stylish timepieces that house this remarkable example of British engineering excellence and so caught Mark Strong’s eye.
Image: Bremont | Supernova
Supernova
Three years in the making, the Supernova is one for the history books as it features Bremont’s first integrated bracelet design. Crafted by in-house engineers, nine key design revisions have resulted in a refined evolution of the firm’s classic three-piece case construction. New tooling and software had to be developed in order to achieve the watch’s stunningly complex, polished geometry, lug case curvature, and varied surface finishes.
Designed to play with the light through contrasting brushed and polished effects, the meticulous final result has been achieved through 12 stages of hand and machine finishing, grinding, and polishing, all of which are designed to ensure the satin grain and polished facets are flawless across each case layer.
Available in three different dial colour variations – Midnight Blue, Pitch Black and Albus White – the Supernova’s layered dial features a classic Bremont raised centre section and a sunken big date function, framed by a perimeter of concentric decoration lines. The minutes track and markers use Super-LumiNova for optimum legibility, while the exhibition case back displays the ENG375 calibre and decorated rotor.
By combining these elements, along with a 65-hour power reserve, Bremont has managed to craft a landmark timepiece, both as a result of the craftsmanship and expertise that has gone into it and by the fact that it’s an entirely British timepiece from its crown to its integrated bracelet.
Image: Bremont | Fury
Fury
The Fury further builds on Bremont’s pedigree in the aviation and military spaces. This is, after all, a brand that collaborates closely with Martin-Baker, the British aviation company responsible for supplying 70 per cent of the world’s Air Forces with fighter ejection seat technology. In fact, approximately 30 per cent of Bremont’s business comes from special projects for the military – check out @bremontmilitary on Instagram to see all the elite military pilots who enjoy showing off their Bremont timepieces from within fighter jets.
Offering up a contemporary take on a classic three-hand pilot’s watch, the Fury is a 40mm chronometer housing Bremont’s high-performance ENG365 calibre movement. Sporting a Henley-made polished stainless steel Bremont Trip-Tick case and available with either a traditional black or rich blue dial, the Fury is instantly iconic, much like the WWII Hawker Sea Fury fighter planes from which it takes its name.
The timepiece’s textured dial design is offset by a sunray power reserve sub dial, which is teamed with Arabic numerals for a stylish finish on a classic design. With legibility being absolutely vital for anyone taking to the skies, the clear dial is enhanced by the application of Super-LumiNova to key indexes, vintage markers, and dagger hands, while the calf leather stitched strap completes the look.
Taking over two years in development alone, the Fury brings together traditional design principles and inspiration while adding a new twist to Bremont’s pilot watch offering.
Image: Bremont | Audley
Audley
Setting a new standard for understated style, the Audley is a classic dress watch with contemporary design cues. Elegant in its simplicity, it doesn’t matter if you pick up this classic-in-the-making in 18ct rose gold or polished stainless steel, the 40mm case design is the epitome of sophistication.
The Audley features a polished case, fluted and faceted indexes, tapered hands, a recessed date function and power reserve sub dial at the 6-hour position. However, what stands out the most is the glimmer of the silver sunray dial, punctuated by a seconds hand and power reserve hand in matching blue.
Like the Fury, the Audley is powered by Bremont’s ENG365 movement – viewable through the open case back – and boasts a 65-hour power reserve. A chocolate-coloured, crocodile-embossed leather strap provides a luxurious finishing touch for both the 18ct rose gold and the polished steel editions, resulting in one of the finest dress watches we’ve ever laid eyes on.
Image: Bremont | Mark Strong
After closely inspecting these impressive timepieces, it’s not difficult to see what tempted a man of Mark Strong’s impeccable sartorial tastes to choose a Bremont to adorn his wrist. As Strong himself explains, “It feels good knowing that I’m wearing a watch that was made in Britain. Knowing that it was engineered, crafted and created in the UK makes me feel very proud.”
Whether you’re British or not, if it’s good enough for Mark Strong – not to mention the world’s most elite fighter pilots – it’s good enough for us. Discover more about Bremont’s Supernova, Audley and Fury collections via the link below.
