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British watchmaker Bremont have expanded its Altitude lineup! The new models are decked out in a blue tone that pays homage to the Royal Air Force.

Unbeknownst to most outsiders, the watch world is surprisingly interconnected. It’s a wonder how these tiny mechanical marvels can be woven into such a wide array of industries; from the silver screen to the extremes of nature, watches have borne witness to almost every single facet of human culture.

This has particularly been the case for British watchmaker Bremont. Since the major rebranding led by CEO Davide Cerrato, the brand has moved almost entirely away from its original identity. With model lines like the Supermarine, Terra Nova, and the more recent Supernova, the brand has tackled the depths of the sea, the rigours of the land, and the void of space.

But that doesn’t mean it has forgotten where it started. Founded by the English (Nick and Giles English, that is, who are also British) brothers in 2002, Bremont began as a celebration of all things aviation. Today, the brand brings those values back into focus with a new capsule of Altitude timepieces in what it calls Air Force Blue.

I’m Blue (Da Ba Dee)

The four new models in the Air Force Blue capsule consist of additions across the Bremont Altitude line. Returning favourites include the 39mm Date, the MB Meteor, and the Chronograph GMT, while the fourth model is a newcomer to the brand’s catalogue. Across all four references are vertically brushed dials in Air Force Blue, paying tribute to the colour of the same name used by the British Royal Air Force.

A symbol of the RAF since 1919, the history behind the blue is rather interesting. Rather than decoration, the colour was chosen out of necessity. While the RAF was still assembling, having been founded in the wake of World War I, there came a surplus of blue-grey herringbone twill fabric in the United Kingdom.

The fabric was originally intended for the Tsar of Russia, where it was to become trousers for his Cossacks. However, the delivery could not be made due to the ongoing Russian Revolution, so the RAF decided to repurpose the warehouse of fabric into new uniforms for its servicemen.

Inspired both by its brand heritage and its history of collaboration with aviation manufacturers like Martin-Baker, Bremont has elected to implement Air Force Blue across the Altitude range. But just because it’s a colour change doesn’t mean the brand is compromising on what enthusiasts know and love about these watches. The Trip-Tick case, bold lines, and strap options of metal, NATO fabric, and leather all pervade the new capsule.

Blue Steel

The first two watches in the Air Force Blue line are the Bremont Altitude 39 Date and Chronograph GMT. The former, a simplified version of the designs established by the MB models of old, is the most basic and accessible offering of the four.

On the other hand, the Chronograph GMT shakes things up with bold contrasts and an unprecedented level of functionality. Both options are encased in 904L stainless steel, providing a more robust and lustrous case frame. The Trip-Tick case construction also allows for a brushed black DLC mid-case for added presentation.

Starting with the 39 Date, its compact case dimensions are complemented by a 47.17mm lug-to-lug measurement and an 11.19mm thickness. Contrasts run in black and white, with a black chapter ring surrounding the new dial tone. Within the Cal. BB14-AH beats at a steady 4Hz (28,800VpH) atop a 68-hour power reserve.

The Bremont Altitude Chronograph GMT is the more feature-packed of the two, with caller-style GMT and chronograph complications. What I love about this design is the tri-tipped small seconds hand, which allows accurate time to be read in 15-second intervals. Complete with two black chronograph registers, the watch is powered by the Cal. BC781AC, with the same 4Hz beat rate atop a 62-hour power reserve.

Titanium Tough

The other two watches come not in steel, but titanium, though the Trip-Tick case offers a knurled blue PVD barrel instead of the brushed black found on the steel models. Measuring 42mm wide, 49.3mm long, and 12.23mm thick is the Altitude MB Meteor, one of Bremont’s most distinctive designs even before the Cerrato rebrand.

Elegant yet tough, the watch takes inspiration from Bremont’s long-standing partnership with MB, or Martin-Baker, a British manufacturer focusing on aviation safety. Originally conceived as a watch that could withstand the shock of an ejector seat, it has since evolved into the modern pilot’s timepiece it is today.

Like its 39mm sibling, the Cal. BB14-AH serves as the beating heart, but not without a few tricks of its own. The Roto-Click bezel, operated by a secondary four o’clock crown, rotates the inner 60-minute scale. This allows for precise timing of minute or second intervals without the added complexity of a chronograph. Perfect for timing aerial manoeuvres, or more realistically, how long you need to cook something.

The final model of the four, as mentioned, is perhaps the most intriguing. Set within the same case dimensions is the Altitude MB Meteor Time Zones. Here, the Roto-Click bezel’s function differs drastically from the standard version. Instead of being used for timing, the MB Meteor Time Zones instead operates as a 24-time-zone world timer.

The 24-hour hand, on a contrasting black-and-white scale, serves as the reference point for the world-timer bezel on the MB Meteor Time Zones. While a flyer-style GMT may have been anticipated, the caller-style execution is perhaps the more intuitive of the two.

Initial Thoughts

With this new release, Bremont ties itself even closer to the legacy of British history. The brand has already done so numerous times over, from collaborations with the Stephen Hawking Foundation to the Kingsman film series. However, this new image of British toughness seems to be serving the company quite well.

In that respect, the Air Force Blue capsule is another great conveyor of Bremont’s new watchmaking values. While the brand focuses on the extremes of the world in a more generalist sense, releases like these reassure customers of its roots.

Nick and Giles English were helped by Antoine Bremont, the inspiration behind the name, after they had to make an emergency landing in his field. With such a compelling origin story, aviation has always been the lifeblood of the brand, and it will continue to be so throughout this new chapter.

References & Specifications

Australian Retail Price: $6,900 (Bracelet) / $6,450 (Leather, NATO)

Australian Retail Price: $10,000 (Bracelet) / $9,600 (Leather, NATO)

Australian Retail Price: $8,600 (Bracelet) / $8,000 (Leather, NATO)

Australian Retail Price: $9,500 (Bracelet) / $8,900 (Leather, NATO)

Availability (All): Available now, from Bremont & Hardy Brothers boutiques or online at Bremont.com