Bremont’s company maxim of being ‘Tested Beyond Endurance’ was pushed to its maximum thus far in 2017 as three different expeditions to Antarctica featured a Bremont watch, and all of them passed the test with flying colours. The most challenging one of the three was by the record-breaking polar explorer Ben Saunders who in November 2017, set out to make the first solo and unsupported crossing of Antarctica.
Bremont watches are designed to be fit-for-purpose in the most severe places on earth. The watchmaker worked with Saunders on the testing and development of the new Limited-Edition watch for his latest trans-Antarctic solo expedition called Endurance; a natural progression to the success of the purpose-built Terra Nova back in 2014.
The Terra Nova was designed to accompany Ben on what was set to be the longest human-powered polar journey in history with the total distance being an incredible 1,800 miles. This west-to-east traverse from Berkner Island to the Ross Ice Shelf via the South Pole and the Shackleton Glacier was planned by Ben’s close friend Lt Col Henry Worsley, who nearly completed the expedition before falling ill and passing away in a hospital in Chile in January 2016.
Ben’s first attempt was ill-fated as his ship ‘Endurance’ was crushed in the sea ice. In one of the greatest stories of human endeavour and leadership qualities, Ben managed to rescue his entire crew and get them back to safety. In the 2017 expedition, Ben was retracing the same route but this time it was solo and unsupported. Ben certainly has the experience behind him to undertake such an arduous journey. Since 2001, he has been on twelve expeditions in the Polar Regions, having covered more than 7,000 km north of the Arctic Circle and South of the Antarctic circle.
Ben once again chose to wear a Bremont on his toughest challenge to date and was keen, we are told, to be involved in as much of the design process as possible. He insisted on titanium again for its obvious lightweight advantages. Naturally, the timepiece had to be able to withstand the extreme climate conditions of the Antarctic continent, being worn on the outside of Ben’s jacket to serve as a crucial navigational device with its GMT hand. The black dial together with its bi-directional rotating sapphire bezel features orange compass heading markers, complementing the North indicator on the GMT hand, all designed for ease of navigation and clarity against the stark white of Antarctica.
Ben also “felt strongly” that the Endurance should have a transparent case-back to view the beautifully finished Bremont movements. So, Bremont designed a new back that was robust enough to enable the watch to reach depths of 500 m and still be able to function in the rigorous climatic conditions of the Antarctic plateau. It also features new contemporary styling on the applied indexes and comes on an orange nato strap.
“As a business we are incredibly proud of Ben, he has an unrivalled list of polar achievements, and we’re privileged to have him testing new watches for us out in the field. This is what we built the business on and is very much at the core of what we’re about as a brand. We actually had three adventurers all on Antarctica independently at the end of 2017 and to have had them all sporting Bremont is an honour; we’re thrilled to be the polar explorers watch of choice.” – Giles English, Bremont Co-Founder
The Bremont Endurance is limited to just 300 pieces and is priced at AED 25,200. It is available at Rivoli Stores across UAE.
