| Bremont Watch Company Limited | |
| Former Name: | Tavannes Limited (AprilJune 2005)[1] |
| Type: | Private |
| Industry: | Watchmakers |
| Foundation: | 2002 |
| Key People: | Davide Cerrato (CEO) |
| Location City: | Henley-on-Thames |
| Location Country: | England, UK |
| Products: | Watches |
Bremont Watch Company Limited is a luxury aviation-themed British watchmaker based in England. Annual production is approximately 10,000 pieces [2] [3] for an approximate annual revenue of £40 million.[4] All of their watches are either COSC or ISO chronometer rated and built in the United Kingdom.[5]
In the 1990s, Nick English and Giles English were flying across France in their 1930's biplane and a rough-running engine forced them to land due to an emergency. To avoid the French authorities, they accepted the help of the farmer whose field they had landed in. Nick & Giles English stayed in the home of the farmer, and the biplane stayed in the barn of the farmer. The farmer turned out to be named Antoine Bremont which the business is named after. In March 1995, Nick and his father Euan were practising for an air display. However, their 1942 WWII Harvard aircraft they flew got involved in an accident. Giles, waiting to take off was told that his father, Euan, was killed. His brother had broken over 30 bones and was told probably wouldn't make it. Six months later, Nick was back flying with his brother Giles. But they decided to pursue what they loved most: spending their lives crafting engineered mechanical devices. When they were children and not flying old aircraft, Nick & Giles spent their time making and restoring things in their father's workshop.
Bremont was founded by brothers Nick and Giles English. The brothers had gained mechanical experience from their father Dr. Euan English, an ex-RAF pilot who had a PHD in Aeronautical Engineering. This evolved from clock assembly, and aeroplane and yacht construction. On 4 March 1995 Euan English was killed and Nick was badly injured when their World War II-vintage Harvard aircraft crashed during a training flight for an air show. The crash spurred the brothers to purchase North Weald Flying Services and after working there together they decided to create their own watch company.[6] [7]
In 2021, the company opened the Bremont Manufacturing & Technology Centre, known as "The Wing" outside Henley-on-Thames, a 35,000-square-foot manufacturing facility where it machines components and assembles timepieces. At full capacity, the company expects The Wing can manufacture up to 50,000 watches annually, which would be five times their current output.[2] The company estimates The Wing and the machinery cost more than £25 million ($34 million).
Since its founding, Bremont have received awards in various fields: Watch Pro ‘Watch Company Of The Year’ 2019; HSBC Global Connections, overall winner, 2013; UK Retail Jewellery Awards, Luxury Watch Brand Of The Year and Store Design Of The Year 2013; Watch Pro ‘Luxury Watch Of The Year’ 2012; Luxury Briefing Awards, ‘Breakthrough Brand’, 2012; UK Jewellery Awards, ‘Watch Brand of the Year Award’, 2011; Walpole British Luxury ‘Best Emerging British Luxury Brand’ 2008.[8]
Bremont has created a number of special-edition watches for serving or former members of the armed forces, based on its commercial models. Purchases of these watches are restricted to people who have flown in the subject aircraft, served in the military units commemorated or, in one case, served on board a particular warship.
Bremont have been a long-time supporter of the armed services through its work with Help for Heroes, The Royal British Legion and official supporter of the UK Team for the Invictus Games. This relationship culminated in the launch of a completely new HMAF range of watches following an agreement which sees Bremont given the license to use signs, symbols, and Heraldic Badges from all three branches of Britain’s Armed Forces.[9] [10] [11]