The Bremont Altitude Collection, the Redesigned MB Watch and the Return of the Trip-Tick Case

There is good news for sceptics who feared Bremont had forsaken its roots. Although the company is no longer in the hands of its founders, Giles and Nick English, their passion for British aviation history and pilot’s watches endures in the new Altitude collection. Marking a new era, the brand releases three redesigned pilot watches – Altitude MB Meteor, Altitude 39 Date and Altitude Chronograph GMT – all bearing attributes of the famous MB (Martin-Baker) watch housed inside Bremont’s emblematic Trip-Tick case.  

Some watches have been to the Moon and back, others have accompanied missions to the abyss, but Bremont is the only brand that can boast having its watches undergo the same trials as a Martin-Baker ejector seat lending credence to the slogan “tested beyond endurance.” In 2007, Martin-Baker challenged Bremont to develop a pilot’s watch capable of resisting the extreme forces of its ejection seat programme.

Bremont replied with the MB1, shielded by a three-part Trip-Tick case with a sandwiched central barrel (container) fitted with a rubberised anti-shock mount and an anti-magnetic inner ring to protect the movement. Subjected to the same gruelling tests used to ascertain the quality and functioning of its fighter ejection seats, the MB1 endured forces exceeding 20Gs, extreme temperature swings from -40ºC to +40ºC, violent vibrations, rapid descent simulations from 100,000 feet and exposure to salt fog and intense humidity. The MB1 model was originally reserved for pilots who have been ejected from an aircraft, while the MB11 and the MB111 are civilian counterparts.

The new Bremont Altitude models share the redesigned Trip-Tick case that has been streamlined to improve comfort without jeopardising its extreme resilience. With a slimmer profile and reduced lug-to-lug distance, the case is meant to sit better on the wrist. Produced in new materials and powered with new movements, certain features of the original MB family live on. The Roto-Click inner bezel has been re-engineered for a smoother and more precise action, and the double crowns reworked for better ergonomics. The knurled barrel protecting the movement, which was originally anodised aluminium, is now crafted in the same material as the case, and is finished with smoother surfaces. The flat bezel of former MB watches is now concave and angled and supports a glassbox sapphire crystal.

The dials, available in black or brushed silver, feature new stencilled numerals inspired by the look of cockpit instruments, and in the case of a date function, there is a broken line around the aperture. The signature two-tone looped counterweight on the central seconds hand inspired by the pull handle of an ejector seat is retained but now depicted in black and white (not yellow and black), and the propeller logo is substituted with the new Wayfinder logo. Furthermore, there is a new bracelet design with a quick-release system and curved bars for increased comfort. Alternatively, the watches can be ordered with a black nubuck leather strap with white stitching or an artisanal black and grey NATO strap.

Bremont Altitude MB Meteor

Named after the two Gloster Meteor fighter jets owned by Bremont, this watch is the highlight of the collection. The 42mm Trip-Tick case, with its slimmer 12.23mm profile and reduced 49.3mm lug-to-lug distance, is made of titanium to reduce weight (52.39g) and increase durability. The knurling of the central titanium barrel is available with a ceramic-based coating in black or grey knurling (more colours in the future).

The signature dual crowns are retained – at 2 o’clock for winding and setting and at 4 o’clock to operate the bi-directional inner bezel. Fans will be pleased to learn that the Roto-Click still produces a satisfying click.

Available in black or silver, the dial has applied numerals and indices with high-grade Super-LumiNova and retains the iconic lollipop seconds hand with its black and white ejection pull handle counterweight and the inverted red triangular Danger warning printed on ejector seats. Powering the watch is the automatic BB14 based on the G100 La Joux-Perret with a 68-hour power reserve. Finished in gunmetal grey and Geneva Stripes, the movement is visible through the open caseback.

Quick facts: 42mm x 12.23mm x 49.3mm – titanium Trip-Tick case with dual crowns – inner Roto-Click bezel – glassbox sapphire crystal over dial, sapphire caseback – 100m water-resistance –  black or brushed silver dial – applied numerals, indices and hands with SLN blue emission, central seconds hand with stripey pullcord counterweight – BB14-AH (base G100 La Joux-Perret) automatic – 28,800vph – 68h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – titanium bracelet, black rubber and leather strap or NATO strap – EUR 5,500 on strap and EUR 5,950 on bracelet

Bremont Altitude Chronograph GMT

Chronographs and GMT complications are useful tools for pilots, but ensuring the layout of the functions remains legible is key. The new Bremont Altitude Chronograph comes in a 42mm diameter 904L stainless steel case with a thickness of 14.7mm, smooth piston-style pushers and a black DLC-coated barrel.

Available with a black or brushed silver dial, the two snailed and recessed chronograph sub-dials – 30 minutes at noon and 12 hours at 6 o’clock – are arranged vertically with a smooth running seconds counter at 9 o’clock indicated by a three-bladed propeller with white or black tips. The date window is well-integrated inside the 12-hour counter and has a matching black or white background. The 24-hour two-tone GMT scale is printed on the flange and indicated by a hallmark red arrow-tipped hand.

The BC781-AC automatic calibre (Sellita base) beats at 28,800vph and delivers a 62-hour power reserve. It is suspended in a rubberised shock-absorbing mounting and ringed with soft iron anti-magnetic shielding.

Quick facts: 42mm x 14.7mm x 49.62mm – 904L stainless steel Trip-Tick case with black PVD-coated barrel – glassbox sapphire crystal over dial, sapphire caseback – 100m water-resistance –  black or brushed silver dial – applied numerals, indices and hands with SLN blue emission – snailed chronograph sub-dials – date window at 6 o’clock – small seconds at 9 o’clock with tri-blade propeller hand with SLN tips – red arrow-tipped GMT hand with SLN, 24-hour two-tone GMT scale on flange – BC781-AC (base Sellita) automatic – 28,800vph – 62h power reserve – hours, minutes, small seconds, chronograph, central chronograph seconds hand, date, GMT function – steel bracelet, leather strap or NATO strap – EUR 6,600 on strap and EUR 6,900 on bracelet

Bremont Altitude 39 Date

With a smaller 39mm Trip-Tick case and a single crown, this more straightforward time-and-date Bremont Altitude Date model is crafted from high-grade 904L stainless steel. The steel central barrel is coated in black DLC for contrast.

The dial is available in black or brushed steel with applied numerals and hands treated with Super-LumiNova. It features the same stencil effect on the date window and numerals, and the central seconds hand with its luminescent lollipop tip features the signature black and white loop of an ejector seat’s handle. Also powered by the BB14 automatic calibre (La Joux-Perret G100), the open caseback reveals the customised rotor.

Quick facts: 39mm x 11.19mm x 47.17mm – 914L stainless steel Trip-Tick case – single crown – glassbox sapphire crystal over dial, sapphire caseback – 100m water-resistance –  black or silver dial – applied numerals, indices and hands with SLN blue emission, central seconds hand with stripey pullcord counterweight – BB14-AH (base G100 La Joux-Perret) automatic – 28,800vph – 68h power reserve – hours, minutes, seconds, date – steel bracelet, leather strap or NATO strap – EUR 4,450 on strap and EUR 4,750 on bracelet

More information at bremont.com.