The Bremont Jaguar C-type chronometer is the newest addition to the British watchmaker’s Jaguar Collection, presented in partnership with the historic British marque.
Born out of “a love of flying historic aircraft, of watches and all things mechanical,” Bremont was founded in 2002 by brothers Nick and Giles English to make beautifully crafted pilot’s watches. Today, all Bremont watches are hand-built in the UK, and all watches in the brand’s core range are either COSC or ISO chronometer rated. The brand has made considerable investments in its in-house manufacturing in the last two decades, and in 2021 moved into its state-of-the-art “Manufacturing & Technology Centre” at Henley-on-Thames.
To emphasise the brand’s British heritage, Bremont has partnered with a number of British institutions and individuals. It is the official timing partner of the Williams F1 team, England Rugby team, Henley Royal Regatta, the Isle of Man TT, and the world’s fastest all-electric aircraft – the Rolls-Royce ‘Spirit of Innovation’ – currently the holder of two world air-speed records. Bremont is also the official watch partner to the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, along with several other co-brand partnerships.
Bremont’s partnership with Jaguar dates back to 2010, when the watchmaker developed an analogue dashboard clock for the C-X75 – a 778 horsepower hybrid supercar capable of hitting 330 kmph. Bremont then developed a special mechanical clock for the Jaguar XJ75 Platinum Concept car, also unveiled in 2010 at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance.
Since then, the two British brands have enjoyed a special relationship producing various concept car clocks, supplying clocks for the Queen’s private fleet of Jaguars, as well as developing designs that honour some of Jaguar’s most celebrated cars. These include the “Special Edition Jaguar E-Type 60th’ anniversary special, and the ‘Bremont Jaguar D-Type’ in honour of Ecurie Ecosse racing team, the double Le Mans 24 Hours champions.
The Bremont and Jaguar co-branded watches are presented under the watchmaker’s Bremont Jaguar Collection, distinguished by a debossed Jaguar Heritage logo on the dial. The latest member of the collection pays homage to the C-type.
In 1948, Jaguar unveiled the XK120 at The London Motor Show, its first post-war sports car. Three years later, in 1951, Jaguar used its foundations to produce a race car, the XK120 C, where the ‘C’ stood for ‘Competition.’ Better known as the Jaguar C-type, it exuded elegance and dominated on the race track.
Designed by Jaguar’s Malcolm Sawyer, who also happened to be an aerodynamicist and an artist, the C-type is famed for its curvy aluminium bodywork. Developed by Chief Engineer William Heynes, the race car had a sophisticated dual-overhead-cam, 3.4 litres, straight-six engine and was the first-ever race car to use disc brakes. It won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1951 and 1953. The Bremont Jaguar C-type watch was designed to honour this legend of British racing.
As with previous Bremont x Jaguar designs, the watch, drawing inspiration from the car, is a study in simplicity and elegance. The 43mm stainless steel case features Bremont’s innovative Trip-Tick three-piece case construction. The three pieces are the bezel, a separate case middle section and the case back. The middle section gets extra protection with a scratch-resistant PVD treatment. The bi-directional rotating bezel in anodised aluminium, referencing the aluminium bodywork of the C-type, displays the tachymeter markers.
The screw-down crown is positioned at the orthodox 3 o’clock position, with the two screw-down chronograph pushers positioned at 2 and 4 o’clock. On top is a domed anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. A tan brown leather racing strap fastens the watch to the wrist.
Bremont’s signature multi-level dial, in this case silver-plated, features a raised central section with a sunburst finish. The satin-finished lower-outer section has black gloss printed numerals and a minute track. It also has two white sub-dials, each framed with polished nickel rings. At 3 o’clock is the chronograph 30-minutes counter and at 9 o’clock is the small seconds.
The red accent on the small seconds sub-dial draws inspiration from the original Smiths gauges from the C-type, while the chronograph hand imitates the needle of its tachymeter. The date indicator is at 6 o’clock. The central hour and minute hands have matte black borders filled with blue Super-LumiNova, and are accompanied by the central chronograph hand.
The Bremont Jaguar C-type is powered by the watchmaker’s modified Calibre 13 1/4″ BE-50AV. Running at 4Hz, the 27-jewels mechanism features a Glucydur balance wheel, Anachron balance spring and a Nivaflex mainspring. It boasts a power reserve of 42-hour. The stainless steel Case Back is in the guise of a decorative coin depicting a C-type hood badge. Water-resistant to 200 metres, The chronometer is rated to ISO 3159 standard.
