Originally Posted by
turbohobbit
And that, gents, I think is actually the nub of the issue here. It could well be that the likes of Rolex, Omega, Patek, etc etc had a dreadful time of it when they started out BUT they were able to unwittingly enjoy two advantages:
1) Their watches were (and arguably for some models still are) unobtainable to all but a very privileged few, who would be much less likely to complain about the quality of the piece and instead bask on the glory of being able to afford something the vast majority of the populace couldn't
and
2) They started out out when even the mass media of the printed newspaper was a fledgling idea.
These days, due to increases in disposable income, a general desire by most to own shiny things, and the explosion of both mass and social media, more people are able to buy these luxury pieces and more people are able to complain publicly to a wider audience when things go wrong. Like it or not, unlike their ancient brethren, new companies - not only Bremont but the likes of Pinion too - HAVE to do things 100% perfectly, 100% of the time. To not puts them at risk of public complaint / whisperings which will ruin a company in ways that Rolex et al couldn't even comprehend when they first started out. Of course it could be argued that much of the criticism towards Bremont is kept to specialist interest-group sites on social media and the general public remain blissfully unaware of the recent problems Bremont has suffered, but this I think would be a naive viewpoint. If I were in the market to buy a new luxury watch and I didn't know anything about the subject I would do my research. And I think many folks know at least one person in their circle of acquaintances who has an interest in watches and would be aware of Bremont's issues and would alert me (as an unknowledgable purchaser) to the stories. The point I'm trying to make here is: just because these stories may originate and be based in niche social media, you must assume in this day and age that the whispering WILL eventually reach the population at large.
Of course, we are only human, and accidents happen, mistakes are made, and problems occur. That's life. But nowadays the more problems and mishaps get reported on (social) media the more damage is done to a company's reputation and the longer it takes to recover. Bremont's public image may start to look a bit shaky in this regard.
I agree wholeheartedly with others. Bremont have come a long way in the last few years, achieved a lot of good things. But now is the time to put the new models, LEs, and special collaborations to one side and instead consolidate what it has, work on refining the models already in the portfolio, and (re)build its reputation in the eyes of the watch-buying public.
but people will have kept faith with them, Breitling, Omega, Patek et al, and look where they are today with many years behind them, massively bigger budgets to play with and with infrastructures way beyond Henley. 
