Our top 6 watches from Bremont’s Melbourne boutique

Jamie Weiss

Being a fresh transplant from Sydney to Melbourne, I’m currently throwing myself into the Melburnian lifestyle; romanticising my day-to-day. I’ve finished off my day’s articles sipping espressos at Brunetti. I’ve taken more than a few unnecessary tram journeys. I’ve started dressing better and following the AFL. I’ve also visited the Bremont boutique on Collins Street a few times, as (to date) the Harbour City doesn’t have its own Bremont boutique that I could easily drop in to and try on some fine English timepieces.

The Bremont boutique on Collins is a lovely spot, too. Taking up one half of the entrance to the historic Block Arcade, the narrow, high-ceiling spot is an elegantly executed temple to English watchmaking. Full of pilot paraphernalia and clad in wood, riveted aluminium and leather, it’s got a distinct character. The retro Martin-Baker ejection seat at the front of the store is a cool touch, as is the wood-panelled bar hidden further back in the store. It’s cozy and elevated all at once; a great place to while away a few hours. The best thing about the boutique, however, is that it has the best range of Bremont timepieces in the country – including limited edition and unusual references that you can’t find anywhere else Down Under.

With Bremont’s range being as voluminous as it is, I’ve assembled a short list of my favourite pieces from Melbourne’s Bremont boutique that I reckon anyone who’s in town should endeavour to visit and try on for themselves.

Bremont MBII

No discussion about Bremont can be had without talking about their MB line of watches. Produced in collaboration with Martin-Baker – a British aviation company responsible for supplying 70% of the world’s air forces with fighter ejection seats – Bremont’s MB line of watches are built to withstand the same rigorous testing programme as the ejection seats themselves. Indeed, the only way you can buy an MBI is if you’ve officially ejected using a Martin-Baker seat yourself… Thankfully, those of us who are not fighter pilots can still pick up an MBII, which ranks as a proper cult classic among watch aficionados.

Minimal yet distinctive, this tough pilot’s watch features an inner bi-directional ‘Roto-Click’ bezel, a seconds hand modelled after the release on a Martin-Baker seat, and a knurled aluminium barrel which you can customise in 9 different colours. One of the advantages of visiting Bremont’s Melbourne boutique is that you can see for yourself how the different barrel colours radically change the aesthetic of the MBII, as do the variety of straps it comes with. I’m a big fan of the orange barrel, which pairs perfectly with the comfy orange rubber-backed textile strap available for the MBII.

Price: A$6,800

Bremont Supernova

Bremont’s first watch with an integrated bracelet, the Supernova is an aesthetically unique design that stands out among the pack in this highly popular and hotly contested segment of watchmaking. On paper, its diameter of 40mm and case length of 53mm might seem daunting, but its smoothly tapered lugs and 11.1mm case depth make the Supernova a surprisingly wearable, dressy luxury sports watch.

It’s unmistakably a Bremont, too, featuring a uniquely airy spin on Bremont’s three-piece ‘Trip-Tick’ case design, fuel gauge-shaped power reserve indicator at 6 o’clock, large Super-LumiNova-filled Arabic numerals and pilot-style arrow hands. I’m a big fan of its big date window, too – as well as the way it’s elegantly bisected by the snailed dial perimeter.

Price: A$12,995

Bremont WR-45 Limited Edition

Bremont’s no stranger to automotive collaborations, but this WR-45 is particularly cool. I’m a massive Formula 1 fan, so the Bremont WR-45 was always going to make my list – but this limited edition chronograph is definitely one of the more unique pieces available at Bremont’s Melbourne boutique. A collaboration with British Formula 1 team Williams, this murdered-out chrono features a black DLC case, an automatic rotor reading ‘Williams Racing’, Williams blue highlights and comes on a black Alcantara strap, Alcantara of course being a material commonly used in motorsports for steering wheels and interiors.

Limited to 244 pieces, a reference to the number of races Williams Racing has had one or both drivers on the podium (although hopefully with Alex Albon’s current heroic form and a rapidly improving car, Williams can change that soon), another special aspect about the Bremont WR-45 is that each watch comes with a genuine centre-lock wheel nut from a modern Williams F1 car. Very cool.

Price: A$9,500

Bremont Broadsword Bronze

A contemporary take on the iconic British ‘Dirty Dozen’ watch design, the Bremont Broadsword was first introduced in 2019 to mark the start of Bremont’s official partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). To this day, Bremont is the sole luxury watch producer legitimately allowed to use the signs, symbols and Heraldic Badges of all three British armed services; the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. The Broadsword Bronze joined the range in 2020, and remains (in my opinion at least) the premier bronze watch in Bremont’s range.

The Bremont Broadsword Bronze’s case is made of CuSn8 bronze, a solid solution-strengthened copper alloy with 8% tin: the high tin content adds to strength, wear and resistance to corrosion, while still allowing the watch to gently patinate over time, with each piece becoming unique as it ages. The lush, chocolatey tobacco dial pairs perfectly with its bronze case, as does its raw nubuck strap.

Price: A$5,000

Bremont Supermarine Descent II

Bremont might be best known for its pilot’s watches but the British brand can make a cracking dive watch too, as the Bremont Supermarine Descent II demonstrates. This is a proper tool: water-resistant to 500m, an automatic helium release valve, a rubberised shock-resistant movement mount, a unidirectional diving bezel… It’s also a GMT watch, with a 24-hour scale rehaut.

The Supermarine Descent II also features a novel combination of materials: its case is titanium, but its bezel is bronze. Few watches combine those two metals, so it’s a nice point of difference. It comes mounted on a beefy integrated rubber strap, which you can either get in black or in this cool Harbour Blue, which matches its GMT hand.

Price: A$6,100

Bremont Audley Rose Gold

Named after Bremont’s first flagship boutique in Mayfair, London (and available to try on at Bremont’s Australian flagship boutique in Melbourne) the Audley is Bremont’s dress watch offering and stands out as a uniquely luxurious piece in the range. Indeed, even I didn’t realise Bremont made pieces in gold until I’d visited the boutique.

A classic dress watch with a hint of characteristic Bremont sportiness, it’s crafted from 18ct rose gold. Its Bremont-manufactured ENG365 movement also features a prominent gold-plated automatic bridge. A silver sunray dial, blued seconds and power reserve indicator hand plus a substantial leather strap all add to its luxurious vibe.

Price: A$23,995

To discover all these Bremont watches and more, head to Bremont’s Melbourne boutique.
292 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000
Contact: +61 03 9639 9440