INTRODUCING: The Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition
Henry ZwartzBremont is a brand that needs little introduction. Based in Henley-on-Thames in the UK, they’ve become closely associated with tough, tool watches inspired by military heritage; think pilot’s watches, field watches, diving watches and chronographs.
The British watchmaker has been going from strength to strength in recent years including opening a new high-tech facility in the UK last year. And now we have a new limited-edition piece – the Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition – that ratchets up an ice-blue quirk factor, and dials down the heritage-inspired steel tool watches more often associated with the brand. This shift of gears comes courtesy of a collaboration with George Bamford, the watch world’s customisation king.
The first thing that I notice when looking at this new watch is the California dial. In fact, I had to do a double take because what we are seeing here is a pretty major mash-up of a whole bunch of different ideas. And it’s the first time Bremont – alongside Bamford – have taken on a California dial.
The dial and hands reminded me of classic oversized pilot’s watches (think Stowa, IWC, WWII era), with a modern ceramic unidirectional dive bezel and offset crown with helium escape valve.
While you can see the Bremont DNA on display with the clear development of their original dive watch, the S500, it’s a completely fresh visual experience, thanks, no doubt, in big part to the Bamford Watch Department, who has a penchant for dialling up the colour-factor with his watch designs.
Consider, if you will, Time and Tide’s own project alongside Bamford, the GMT1 and GMT2. Bamford, then, is a big factor in this design bringing with it a design language imbued with a refreshing sense of fun
Speaking quickly of the S500, if I may, this is an important watch for Bremont in and of itself, having been the brand’s first mechanical dive watch in 2009. So it seems fitting to pay homage to that important model with an exciting re-jig.
The dial has been given a layered construction, according to Bremont and Bamford. This means that instead of a single plate, the dial consists of a solid disc of luminous material (Super-LumiNova) that is then covered with a plate with spaces to expose the lumed characters.
The brands both claim this provides better lume performance and adds more visual depth to the dial – it will be good to see these in the metal because, no doubt, they should glow like torches.
The 43mm case is DLC treated stainless steel with a jet-black finish that looks luscious, in the press images anyway.
The case length is 51mm, the height is 16.5mm, meaning this watch will have serious wrist presence. Lug widths are 22mm. The watch is water resistant to 500 metres, more than most of us will ever need and which speaks to the robustness of this piece.
The watch has an automatic chronometer movement with 38 hours power reserve that has been enhanced by Bremont with a modified winding bridge. It comes with a black sailcloth strap with light blue stitching and DLC black stainless-steel pin buckle.
Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition pricing and availability
The Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition is limited to 250 pieces and is available from Bremont distributors for $6,600 AUD