Bremont have just announced their latest major LE watch, the Supersonic - a 50th anniversary celebration of the supersonic airliner that despite being retired, remains a modern technological marvel - the Concorde. Bremont and British Airways have teamed up on this project to create a truly unique piece that will likely resonate deeply with fans of the legendary Concorde aircraft.
Traditionally, Bremont take the opportunity to show off their technological achievements by incorporating unique complication into these yearly LE projects. The Victory had a double retrograde movement, the Codebreaker used a flyback chronograph, the Wright Flyer the BWC-01 movement, the 1918 had an AM/PM indicator window, and now the Supersonic is the first use of a manual wound movement, complete with an impressive 8 day power reserve, with indicator at the top portion of the dial.
As the Supersonic is the first non-Automatic Bremont, this certainly feels like unexplored territory for the brand. Bremont have worked with their Swiss movement partner, La Joux Perret, to create this particular movement, dubbed the BE-11M. Many of us have come to associate these Heritage LE projects with their unique movement rotors, which often incorporate a precious material of historical significance along with a distinguishable color scheme. Well, the English brothers haven't strayed too far from their successful LE formula, as they've found a way to display the movement innards through a unique bridge plate window shaped as a Concorde silhouette. The movement is tastefully finished in a Côtes de Genève motif, and surrounded by a dark ring of aluminum collected from...you guessed it...a Concorde! Not just any Concorde mind you, but one from the British Airways fleet named "G-BOAB" or "Alpha Bravo" for short. This plane had a distinguished history, being the third Concorde in the British Airway fleet, with first flight in May 1976 and recorded a total of 6,688 trips before being retired in 2000. During that span, it was documented as reaching a top speed of Mach 2.05. These flight facts are memorialized on the aluminum ring encircling the manual movement and visible through the rear caseback crystal.
The Supersonic comes in the standard Bremont size of 43mm, with 22mm lug width, complete with Trip-Trick case. The watch height measures at 14.56mm. You may notice that the top-case looks somewhat different than the standard Bremont case. This particular case has been used at least once before on the small run 10th Anniversary Watch that Bremont released in 2017.
There are several Concorde design cues positioned across the watch. The 12H red dial arrow is actually in the shape of a Concorde.
The watch dial is white with silver tones, with a subtle sunburst pattern. Bremont are calling it "Sunray Silver White" which is meant to compliment the unique and specialized reflective paint used on the Concorde itself. There are blue accents on the handsets and straps which are a nod to the British Airways color scheme. At the 6 o'clock position there is a running small seconds window with a textured Concorde pattern slyly incorporated. This is somewhat reminiscent of how Bremont incorporated the Auld Mug onto the dial of their Americas Cup range, specifically the AC35 and AC1 watches. I feel as though Bremont have walked a fine line here, and pulled off a detail that is both tasteful and clever without looking out of place or gaudy.
The watch crown features four Concorde inlays that are composed to look like compass needles, or even a star.
The Supersonic is being offered in 3 varieties: polished Stainless Steel, White Gold, and Rose Gold. The stainless version will be limited to 300 pieces, while the gold versions will be shipped at 100 units each. There are a few subtle, yet notable distinguishing features between the models. The steel version has painted Arabic numerals, omits a date window border and features blued steel minute and hour hands, with a blue leather strap. The gold versions feature coordinating gold applied Arabic numerals, a gold date window border, a gold handset, and uses crocodile leather straps in blue for white gold, and brown for rose gold.
The presentation packaging for the Supersonic is sure to titilate fans of the Concorde! It is an aluminum desk stand shaped as the iconic Concorde nose. When the nose is depressed/lowered, as it would be in a take-off or landing situation, the watch is revealed from the rear fuselage. Too cool! As far as I am aware, there are no extra straps or accessories with the Supersonic.
The price of the Supersonic is as follows:
Stainless Steel - $12,495 / £9,495 / €10,895
White Gold - $23,995 / £17,995 / €20,495
Rose Gold - $22,995 / £16,995 / €19,495
I am told that they are to begin shipping as early as Mid-November 2018.
What do you all think? Is the Supersonic everything you were hoping for? Do you plan to add one to your collection? Did they miss out on an opportunity this year? I'd love to hear your feedback below. If you have any specific questions, I’ll do my best to track down an answer.
Jeremy
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Originally Posted by awildermode
