CONTENTS THE PA RTNE RSHIP
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THE HISTO RY O F BO E ING
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THE A MRC W ITH BO EING
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THE BREMO NT BO E ING RA NGE THE F U TU RE
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THE pARTNERSHIp Much of Bremont Watch Company’s DNA is deeply rooted in aviation. CoFounders Nick and Giles English, both pilots themselves, set out to make high quality watches of classic design durable enough to withstand any pressures an aviator’s timepiece may endure. Now Bremont has partnered with aerospace giant The Boeing Company and is delighted to present the debut timepieces from the Bremont Boeing range: the Model 1 and Model 247. When Boeing started searching for a watch partner, it was evident that they were wanting a lot more than simply a branded watch. The quality of Bremont’s work made it clear that the two companies would make ideal collaborators. Over the last decade, for example, Bremont has manufactured limited edition timepieces in tribute to aircraft under the Boeing Company umbrella, like for example, the North American P-51. Bremont has also been working extensively with the military. Pilots serving globally from Alaska to Antarctica proudly wear Bremont watches designed MODEL 1 TITANIUM GMT
and manufactured especially for their squadrons.
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Timepieces have been designed to celebrate flying machines like the Boeing AH-64 Apache gunship and CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the large military transport C-17 Globemaster and state of the art jet fighters like the Boeing F-15 Eagle, F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet. At any moment, a Bremont will be airborne somewhere in the world keeping precise time for its pilot owner, even in the harshest of environments. Bremont is renowned for its exclusive limited edition watches which incorporate history into beautiful chronometers. In 2009 the company produced a watch dedicated to a World War Two fighter legend, the iconic P-51 Mustang ‘Fragile but Agile’. A Pacific Theatre veteran, parts of original aluminium from this Mustang
Watch produced for the F-15E Strike Eagle pilots
were incorporated into the watch build. When Boeing saw Bremont’s classic yet subtle treatment of history with the P-51 Limited Edition, it was a deciding factor in selecting Bremont as the perfect partner to commemorate the rich history of their brand. Discussions between Bremont and Boeing began a number of years ago. They quickly discovered a shared ethos regarding innovation and design.
The P-51 Limited Edition contains parts of the original P-51 Mustang ‘Fragile but Agile’
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With Boeing a world leader in material research, Bremont also works closely with the University of Sheffield’s Boeing-sponsored Advanced Material Research Centre (AMRC) to develop exclusive new manufacturing processes. Nick English sums up the two organisations as ‘an incredible dichotomy’. The first watches in the Bremont Boeing range, the Model 1 and Model 247, are typically elegant Bremont designs using highly durable aviation-grade materials never used before in watch manufacture. The Bremont Boeing range is an exciting collaboration between three industry front-runners using cutting edge expertise to celebrate the rich history of the Boeing brand.
MODEL 247 STAINLESS STEEL
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THE HISTORY OF BOEING Not many companies can lay claim to a hundred years of history, but aerospace giant Boeing is looking forward to celebrating its centenary in 2016. When William Boeing saw a piloted flying machine for the first time in 1909, it launched a curiosity for flight that would one day make him a household name. He purchased and learned to fly an aircraft in 1915 but realised he could manufacture an improved version to his own design. In June 1916 he built his very first aircraft, the Model 1 seaplane, and decided to make aviation his business. Boeing designed, manufactured and sold seaplanes to the US Navy during World War One. The end of the conflict marked a lean spell for aircraft production so the company switched to making furniture to survive until the market became more buoyant. The 1920s saw Boeing produce seaplanes, military fighters and mail-planes, with the Boeing Airplane Company fast becoming a leading light in a rapidly developing aviation industry. By 1938 Boeing opened up world travel with legendary aircraft like the Boeing 314 Clipper flying boat, carrying Pan-Am passengers on trans-oceanic routes. During World War Two, European skies saw the silhouettes of thousands of William Boeing (above) and the Model 1 seaplane (left)
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers.
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William Boeing passed away in 1956 but lived long enough to see the company he founded enter the jet age. In 1967 Boeing produced an airliner which became the best-selling commercial jet worldwide, the 737. Still in production today, this short-range passenger jet was joined three years later by an equally famous Boeing creation. With it’s instantly recognisable bulbous forward upper deck, the 747 Jumbo Jet remains a fond favourite of pilots and passengers all over the globe. Boeing’s technological expertise saw the company’s equipment reaching even greater heights when they began working with NASA, initially providing rocket technology for the Apollo space programme and the Space Shuttle, later becoming the first contractor for the International Space Station.
Boeing Model 247D in flight over New York City
During the last century, Boeing has continually released innovative designs for both the military and civilian world. They have greatly improved the speed, safety and comfort of airline travel, with the 787 Dreamliner the latest addition to their fleet. The company headquarters are now in Chicago, but Boeing still retains a strong Seattle history manufacturing at the factories around the city where the brand story began. As one of the largest aircraft manufacturers and defence contractors in the world, Boeing’s hundredth anniversary in 2016 is a major milestone in aviation history. Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
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THE AMRC WITH BOEING Bremont made many visits to Seattle and Chicago to discuss the Bremont Boeing collaboration. After multiple meetings with Boeing’s executives, engineering and design teams, it was suggested that Bremont visit the University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) in the UK. As a founding partner in the centre, Boeing realised that Bremont would find kindred spirits there. The AMRC was set up to identify, research and resolve advanced manufacturing, machining and material challenges. Nick English described the benefit to Bremont: “We wanted the watches to be special and unique within our range whilst adhering to our core principles like longevity, robustness and the aviation DNA that runs through our brand. When we talked to AMRC we fell in love with what they are doing. They were about being as efficient as you can with manufacturing processes, and they’re spending a lot of time on the materials. That was a very interesting thing for us as a brand and enabled us to start experimenting on what we could do with these watches. The end result was us designing a watch and using AMRC’s expertise on the materials and the manufacturing process. We started to work with this exciting new steel used in some parts of the case. It’s harder, stronger steel than previous watch grade steels and through other treatments we’re getting the corrosion resistance we wanted as well.”
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Bremont joined AMRC as a research member but soon took the partnership further: “We realised that AMRC are very focused on similar things to us. For example, they’re very passionate about bringing back manufacturing to the UK which is something Bremont is devoted to. We are based at Henley-on-Thames and have a facility for making parts in Silverstone. All our watches are made here in the UK.” To further this aim and bring back as much watch manufacturing to British shores as feasible, Bremont created a role at AMRC for a PhD research student to work at the Centre and investigate watch parts and movement manufacturing processes. As Nick concludes, “The relationship has become a lot deeper than we first thought possible which is really wonderful”. New manufacturing processes have enabled materials such as Custom 465® Stainless Steel to be incorporated into the Bremont Boeing range
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THE BREMONT BOEING RANGE Working with Boeing’s material research expertise and AMRC’s development of innovative manufacturing processes, Bremont has set a new standard in aviation timepieces. The Bremont Boeing Model 1 and Model 247 are stunning advanced designs constructed from aviation grade metals which in some cases are new to watch manufacture. Whilst using cutting edge and more modern materials, the timepieces act as classic tributes to an earlier era in Boeing’s rich history.
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MODEL 1 The Bremont Boeing Model 1 is available in two versions, with a choice of case manufactured from parts including super-strong durable metals unique to the Bremont Boeing range - Custom 465® Stainless Steel or Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 titanium. Custom 465® Stainless Steel is an extremely tough, double vacuum-melted, agehardenable alloy developed for the aerospace industry and used by Boeing, for example, in the undercarriages of F-18s and 747 Jumbo jets. Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 is significantly stronger than commercial titanium and used widely in both airframes and engine components. The Bremont Boeing Stainless Steel models use the same Custom 465® Stainless Steel as used in the undercarriage of the F-18
The Model 1 also features Bremont’s unique Trip-Tick® case construction with an integrated crown guard. The beautifully decorated movement is suspended in Boeing blue decorated steel with rubber anti-shock mounts visible through a stunning crystal case back.
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MODEL 1 STAINLESS STEEL Movement
Modified calibre 13 1/4” BE-36AE automatic chronometer, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 38-hour power reserve, Bremont Boeing skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second, date at 4.5H. Case
Bremont Trip-Tick® construction in Custom 465® Stainless Steel with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Bi-directional rotating bezel with SuperLumiNova®. Protective anti-shock decorated movement mount. 43mm diameter, 22mm lug width. Exhibition case back. Dial
Metal dial with SuperLumiNova® coated hands and numerals. 2 colour variations. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Seattle (organic polymer) strap and additional strap. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification.
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BB1-SS/WH
BB1-SS/BK
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MODEL 1 TITANIUM GMT Movement
Modified calibre 13 1/4” BE-93-2AE automatic chronometer, 21 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 42-hour power reserve, GMT functionality. Bremont Boeing skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second and 24H GMT hand with date at 4.5H. Case
Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 titanium with bi-directional rotating bezel with SuperLumiNova® and crown guard. Bremont Trip-Tick® construction with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Protective anti-shock decorated movement mount. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm. Exhibition case back. Dial
Metal dial with SuperLumiNova® coated hands and numerals. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Seattle (organic polymer) strap and additional strap. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification.
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BB1-TI-GMT/BK
BB1-TI-GMT CASE BACK
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MODEL 247 Inspired by Boeing’s progressive twin-engined Model 247 airliner from the 1930s, Bremont’s unique chronograph has two sub-dials that reflect the aircraft’s radial engines. Like the Model 1 timepiece, the case is available in Custom 465® Stainless Steel or Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 Titanium. The Bremont Trip-Tick® case construction incorporates a screw down crown and chrono-pushers. The Model 247 also features an exhibition sapphire crystal case back through which the automatic chronometer movement can be seen. By 1933 aircraft design had moved forward rapidly, with Boeing at the forefront of innovation. The twin-engined Boeing Model 247 was a major advance in passenger The Boeing Model 247’s radial engines inspired the sub-dials of the Bremont Boeing Model 247
air travel. Focused on both safety and speed, it was the first twin airliner able to fly on one engine only, and the airframe incorporated revolutionary design features like autopilot, control surface trim tabs and de-icing capability. The Model 247 set a new trans-continental speed record, transiting a phenomenal eight hours faster than any previous aeroplane. Passengers could travel non-stop across the US continent for the very first time. Used by both civilian and military operators, the Model 247 set the standard for basic airline design for the next decade.
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MODEL 247 STAINLESS STEEL Movement
Modified calibre 13 1/4” BE-50AE automatic chronometer, 28 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800 bph, 42-hour power reserve, Bremont Boeing skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second, date at 4.5H, chronograph small counters with seconds and 30 minutes. Case
Bremont Trip-Tick® construction in Custom 465® Stainless Steel with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Bi-directional rotating bezel with SuperLumiNova®. 43mm diameter, 22mm lug width. Exhibition case back. Dial
Metal dial with SuperLumiNova® coated hands and numerals. 2 colour variations. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Seattle (organic polymer) strap and additional strap. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification.
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BB247-SS/WH
BB247-SS/BK
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MODEL 247 TITANIUM GMT Movement
Modified calibre 13 1/4” BE-54AE automatic chronometer, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspring, 28,800bph, 42-hour power reserve, GMT functionality. Bremont Boeing skeletonised decorated rotor. Functions
Hour/minute/second. Chronograph small counters with seconds, 30 minutes and 12 hours and 24H GMT hand with date at 4.5H. Case
Boeing aviation-grade Ti 6-4 titanium with bi-directional rotating bezel with SuperLumiNova®. Bremont Trip-Tick® construction with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Case diameter 43mm, lug width 22mm. Exhibition case back. Dial
Metal dial with SuperLumiNova® coated hands and numerals. Crystal
Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal. Water resistance
10 ATM, 100 metres. Strap/Bracelet
Seattle (organic polymer) strap and additional strap. Certification
Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification.
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BB247-TI-GMT/DG
BB247-TI-GMT CASE BACK
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THE FUTURE The inspiring partnership between Bremont and Boeing has just begun and both companies are looking forward to further ventures leading to Boeing’s upcoming centenary year. Nick English concludes, “It’s fantastic to be working with a company like Boeing. We’ve only just begun in terms of what the two companies can do together, there will be many more exciting projects to come.”
Bremont Watch Company, PO BOX 4741, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England RG9 9BZ Tel: +44 (0) 845 0940 690 Email: info@bremont.com Visit: www.bremont.com/boeing TestedBeyondEndurance Bremont BremontWatches