Bremont announces Limited Edition Mustang P-51 Watch

From the Bremont Press Release, this morning:

Following on from the great success and interest generated by the arrival of the very special and unique EP120 Limited Edition watch back in late 2008, Bremont are releasing the Limited Edition ‘Bremont P-51’, a chronograph chronometer built with original parts from the famous 1944 Mustang WWII aircraft P-51K-10 (serial number 44-12016), a Pacific war veteran also known as ‘Fragile but Agile’.

Original aluminium metal from the aircraft fuselage is integrated into both the dial and the movement of the timepiece; with the dial itself inspired by the clocks found in the P-51 aircraft. The 43mm hardened steel Trip-Tick™ case, using Bremont’s B-EBE2000 technology, integrates the new rotating ‘Roto-Click’ inner bezel that houses four ball-bearings inside the case. As with many of Bremont’s latest watch designs, the P-51 is assembled the company’s atelier in England rather than their workshop in Biel-Bienne in Switzerland, and houses a modified Swiss BE-54A automatic chronometer movement that also shows UTC time. The watch will be limited to only 251 pieces and will retail at £7,450.00. The watch is to be unveiled at Basel 2011 and released in the autumn. 

My initial comments are as follows:

• Wow. Stunning watch, which incorporates elements of the classic Elgin / Waltham 8-day cockpit clocks (see image below) with Bremont's traditional, strong styling
• In doing so, the Mustang P-51 stays true to Bremont's design 'DNA' while also being a decent homage to a fantastic 'plane (Fragile but Agile has a splendid history too). The use of the four-bladed rotor echoes the similar blades of the Mark IX Spitfire, further linking this to the previous model (EP 120)
• I must admit to some surprise at the 'plane chosen - I didn't think I'd see the word 'Fragile' on a Bremont! 
• There are some lovely little details on the watch - the UTC hand and numbering are improved, in my opinion, from the EP 120, the accentuated hands add legibility, while the seconds hand seems to be displaying Bremont's increasing quirkiness (cf the Martin-Baker hand on the MB range of watches)
• The SuperLuminova is bespoke, and lends a faded, lived-in look to the watch, further echoed by the light PVD-treatment on the stainless steel case, while the internal bezel's solid Roto-click should keep owners happy
• I like the 30-minute counter at 12 o'clock, although would probably have preferred a slightly longer counter myself (I must admit that I tend to use chronos for timing football matches!)
• Would like to see a side-on view - would be interesting to see whether Bremont have maintained the "roundel"

I like it!


#watchnerd


Photos (C) Bremont 2011 ( Details / specs after the jump)

Photos (C) Bremont 2011


MOVEMENT

Modified calibre 13 1/4" BE-54AE automatic chronometer, 25 jewels, Glucydur balance, Anachron balance spring, Nivaflex 1 mainspiring, 28,800bph, 42 hour power reserve. Hand-crafted aluminum rotor from 44-12016 skin.

FUNCTIONS

Hour / minute / second (chrono), date at 4H, constant seconds @ 9H, chronograph small counter with 30 minutes @ 12H, 24 hour UTC hand.

CASE

Hardened stainless steel Bremont Trip Tick® construction with scratch resistant PVD treated case barrel. Case diameter 43.00mm, lug width 22.00mm, case thickness 16.00mm.

CASE BACK

Stainless steel with integrated flat crystal, 5 stainless steel screws with polished heads.

BEZEL

Internally rotating bezel operated by crown at 8H with Bremont Roto-Click® technology.

DIAL

Metal dial with various ground colours with integrated aluminum sub-dial from 44-12016 skin.

Coated nickel hands with bespoke SuperLumiNova®

CRYSTAL

Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal.

WATER RESISTANCE

Water resistant to 10 ATM, 100 metres.

RATINGS

C.O.S.C chronometer tested.

BRACELET

Tanned embossed calf-skin leather strap with   stainless steel solid deployment buckle and engraved security clasp.

CERTIFICATION

Every watchcase and movement is engraved with its Bremont serial number and is accompanied by its C.O.S.C certification.

LIMITED EDITION

P-51 limited to 251 pieces.