Aviation watches have been around as long as airplanes have, and certain brands are well known for their aviation-inspired and instrument watches. British brand Bremont, whose owners Nick and Giles English, are both pilots, is one of those brands. Earlier this year, Bremont unveiled its newest timepieces for 2017 and among them was a celebration of aviation watches in the form of the new AIRCO. In fact, the Bremont AIRCO Mach 1 and Mach 2 watches are making their way to stores — just in time for Father’s Day.
For these two new AIRCO watches, Bremont was inspired by the history of military aviation. The brand’s first classically styled three-hand pilot watch measures 40mm in diameter. According to Giles English, the design “takes Bremont right back to the roots of British pilot watch production and, with the RAF’s centenary just around the corner, now seemed the appropriate time to create it.”
The AIRCO models are named after one of England’s first military aircraft manufacturers: Aircraft Manufacturing Company Limited. Housing the BE-92AE chronometer movement, the watches utilize Bremont’s technical three piece ‘Trip-Tick ®’ cases that are produced in the company’s facilities in the UK. The two models are the Bremont AIRCO MACH 1/BK with black dial and orange sweep second hand and vintage-style brown leather strap, and the AIRCO MACH 2/AN with anthracite-colored dial and black calf leather strap.
Tech Specs of the Bremont AIRCO Mach 1
Movement: Modified calibre 11 1⁄2’’’ BE-92AE automatic chronometer fitted with Bremont decorated rotor and 21 jewels, Glucydur balance and Anachron balance spring, with Nivaflex 1 mainspring. Rated frequency of 28,800 A/h with 38-hour minimum power reserve.
Case: Hardened stainless steel of Bremont Trip-Tick®construction with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Case diameter 40mm.
Caseback: Stainless steel case back with integrated flat sapphire crystal, 4 stainless steel screws with polished heads.
Crystal: Double curved anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal.
OTHER: Water resistant to 10 ATM, 100 metres.
C.O.S.C chronometer tested.
Strap: 20mm calf leather, NATO style strap with pin buckle or stainless steel bracelet.
Tech Specs of the Bremont AIRCO Mach 2
Movement: Modified calibre 11 1⁄2’’’ BE-92AE automatic chronometer fitted with Bremont decorated rotor and 21 jewels, Glucydur balance and Anachron balance spring, with Nivaflex 1 mainspring. Rated frequency of 28,800 A/h with 38-hour minimum power reserve.
Functions: Hour, minute and sweeping second hands, with stop second function and date at 6H, adjusted via screw-down decorated crown.
Case:Hardened polished stainless steel of Bremont Trip-Tick® construction with scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel. Case diameter 40mm. Overall height 12.5mm. Strap lug width 20mm.
Caseback: Polished stainless steel case back with integrated flat sapphire crystal, 4 stainless steel screws with polished heads.
Dial: Opalin matt metal dial with integrated dial ring and polished nickel numerals/markers. Nickel polished hands.
Crystal: Double curved anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal.
Water Resistance: Water resistant to 10 ATM, 100 metres.
Strap: 20mm calf leather, NATO style strap with pin buckle or stainless steel bracelet.
C.O.S.C chronometer certified. Individually serial numbered with accompanying C.O.S.C certification.