Bremont

Who are Bremont?

Bremont is a British watch company based in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, founded in 2002 by the brothers Nick and Giles English (Wikipedia). It is known for aviation-themed mechanical watches. This page covers its history, how its watches are made, the collections and who owns it, then what to check when buying a pre-owned Bremont in the UK.

The business trades through Bremont Watch Company Limited, a private company registered in England, whose registered office is The Wing, the manufacturing and technology centre it opened in 2021 (Companies House; Wikipedia). Companies House lists its activities as making watches and clocks, wholesale and retail of watches, and watch repair. Wikipedia puts output at about 10,000 watches a year; Bremont does not publish production figures itself, so treat that as an outside estimate.

The history of Bremont

Bremont’s history is short by watch-industry standards: a family business founded in 2002, a factory of its own in 2021, outside investment from 2023, and a change of control in 2025. The key dates are the founding (2002), the Martin-Baker partnership (2009), The Wing (2021), the ENG300 movement (2021–2022) and the new ownership (2025).

The founders. The brothers’ father, Euan English, was a former RAF pilot with a doctorate in aeronautical engineering. On 4 March 1995 he was killed and Nick was badly injured when their Second World War Harvard aircraft crashed during practice for an air show (Wikipedia). The brothers went on to found Bremont in 2002 (Wikipedia). The name comes from Antoine Bremont, a French farmer and former pilot who looked after the brothers when they made an emergency landing on his land; JCK reported in 2008 that his name was “chosen to grace this new family of watches” (JCK).

The company. The UK company was incorporated on 5 April 2005 as Tavannes Limited and took the name Bremont Watch Company Limited on 28 June 2005 (Companies House).

Martin-Baker. In February 2009 Bremont announced a partnership with Martin-Baker, the British maker of aircraft ejection seats. The first watch, the MBI, went through Martin-Baker’s own test programme, including a live ejection, and is sold only to people who have ejected from a Martin-Baker seat. Each is engraved with the owner’s ejection number. The MBII, sold to anyone, followed, and the MBIII, with a second time zone, came in March 2014 (Bremont).

The first British-made parts. In July 2014 Bremont launched the Wright Flyer, a limited edition with the BWC/01 movement, signed “London”. aBlogtoWatch reported that many of its components were made at Bremont’s base in Henley-on-Thames, and that the movement appeared to be based on one by the Swiss movement maker La Joux-Perret. How the movement was first described caused debate; more on that below.

The Wing. In 2021 Bremont opened The Wing, a 35,000 sq ft manufacturing and technology centre outside Henley-on-Thames. Wikipedia, citing Bloomberg, says that at full capacity it could make up to 50,000 watches a year. The Longitude limited edition, announced in October 2021, was the first Bremont limited edition produced there (Watchonista).

Investment and new management. In February 2023 The Walpole reported that Bill Ackman, the American investor, had invested in Bremont as part of a £48.4m round in which Hellcat, the existing lead investor, also increased its stake. In May 2023 Davide Cerrato became chief executive; he had previously worked at Tudor, Panerai and Montblanc (SJX Watches). In April 2024 Bremont showed at Watches and Wonders in Geneva for the first time, with a new logo, the Wayfinder, and new Terra Nova and Supermarine collections (WatchGecko).

Change of control. In April 2025 Ackman became chairman and majority owner. The founders left the board and remain brand ambassadors (Wikipedia).

What is Bremont known for?

Bremont is known for aviation watches, its work with Martin-Baker and the British armed forces, and for making and assembling watches in Britain. It describes The Wing as “the only end-to-end watch manufacture in the UK” (Bremont). How much of a Bremont is made in Britain has been debated, and the details are below.

Aviation and the armed forces. The Martin-Baker MBI is one example (Bremont). Bremont also makes special editions for military units, which are sold only to people who flew the aircraft, served in the unit or, in one case, served aboard the ship being commemorated. A licence lets it use the badges and symbols of all three British armed services for its Armed Forces range (Wikipedia). It sits alongside other British watch companies such as Christopher Ward and Garrick, though each takes a different approach to how much of the watch is made in Britain.

Where the watches are made. Bremont says it covers “the whole watchmaking process” at The Wing, “from design and development to prototyping, assembly, testing, and servicing”. On the same page it says it sources “high-grade Swiss mechanical movements” (Bremont). So the movement in a Bremont is Swiss in origin, and the assembly, testing and servicing happen in Henley.

The ENG300. The exception is the ENG300 series. Bremont acquired the rights to manufacture and re-engineer the K1 base movement of the Swiss firm THE+, and makes movement parts such as main plates and balance bridges at The Wing, where the ENG300 is also assembled and regulated (Watchonista). Watches with it are tested to Bremont’s own H1 Timing Standard, which the company says is comparable to the ISO chronometer standard (Motor Sport). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains why the distinction matters to buyers, and the guide to COSC certification covers how official chronometer testing works.

The “in-house” debate. When the BWC/01 movement launched in 2014, aBlogtoWatch called it a “so called in-house made” calibre and reported that it appeared to be based on La Joux-Perret movements, a point Bremont had not confirmed at the time. Bremont has since described its movements carefully: its current watchmaking page says it sources Swiss movements, and calls The Wing an end-to-end manufacture (Bremont). A search of the Advertising Standards Authority’s published rulings on 29 October 2026 found no ruling about Bremont (ASA).

Materials. Bremont says it has moved its cases from hardened 316L steel to 904L, and makes a ceramic case from a single block that shrinks 23% when fired at 1,450°C (Bremont).

Which Bremont collections are there?

Bremont’s current range is organised into four main families: Altitude (aviation), Supermarine (diving), Terra Nova (field watches) and Supernova (space), plus the Armed Forces collection. The structure dates from the 2024 reorganisation under Davide Cerrato (WatchGecko; Bremont).

The collections table on this page gives a line on each family. A few points help when you read listings:

• Older model names. Before 2024, Bremont’s range used other names, and watches such as the Audley dress watch and the Fury pilot’s watch, both launched in 2022 with ENG300-series movements, still turn up second-hand (Motor Sport). WatchGecko reported that the Fury and the MB models sit in the Altitude family.
• Two logos. Watches from the 2024 relaunch carry the Wayfinder logo on the dial (WatchGecko). Whether a watch has the earlier or the later logo tells you roughly which generation it is.
• Limited and military editions. Many Bremont watches are limited editions or made for a particular unit, ship or squadron (Wikipedia). The edition number and the papers matter more than usual for these.
• The MB models. The MBI, with its red barrel, is sold only to people who have ejected from a Martin-Baker seat; the MBII and later MB models are on general sale (Bremont).

Who owns Bremont?

Bremont is majority owned by the American investor Bill Ackman, who became chairman in April 2025 (Wikipedia). At Companies House, BLTT Bidco Limited has been registered as a person with significant control of Bremont Watch Company Limited since 3 April 2025, holding more than 25% but not more than 50% of the shares and votes.

The register also records earlier controllers. Hellcat Acquisitions, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, was registered from 1 March 2019 and ceased on 20 January 2026. The Pershing Square Foundation, a New York charitable trust, was registered from 19 October 2022 until 3 April 2025 (Companies House). The register shows only holders above 25%, so it is not a full list of shareholders.

The founders ran the company from 2002 (SJX Watches). After the 2023 investment they stayed on the board as non-executive directors, and in April 2025 the company announced that they were no longer board members but would remain brand ambassadors (Wikipedia). Bremont is a private company; it files accounts at Companies House but is not listed on a stock exchange.

Buying a pre-owned Bremont in the UK: what to check

Check that the watch’s serial number matches its warranty card and papers, find out whether any of the original three-year warranty (five years for registered ENG300 models) is left, ask for the service history, and run a stolen-watch check. For limited and military editions, check the edition number against the papers.

1. Papers and the full set. Bremont’s warranty depends on “the duly completed, dated and stamped” warranty card from the retailer who first sold the watch (Bremont). Ask which items come with the watch and whether they are originals. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. Warranty. The standard warranty covers manufacturing defects for three years from the original purchase. ENG300 models get five years if registered within 30 days of purchase, and watches with the Wayfinder logo bought after April 2024 can be extended to five years by registering them (Bremont). Bremont’s warranty page does not say whether the remaining cover passes to a later owner. Work by a watchmaker not accredited by Bremont invalidates the warranty (Bremont), so ask who has opened the watch. See watch warranties explained.

3. Servicing. Bremont recommends a service every three to five years, carried out at The Wing, with a two-year warranty on a complete service (Bremont). Ask for the service paperwork and whether any original parts were replaced.

4. Authenticity. Buy from a seller who will put authenticity in writing and accept returns, and have the watch checked by a watchmaker you choose. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers what a watchmaker looks at.

5. Stolen-watch check. Check the serial number against a stolen-watch register before you pay. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers.

6. Limited and military editions. Some Bremont editions were sold only to people who flew a particular aircraft or served in a particular unit (Wikipedia), and the MBI only to people who ejected from a Martin-Baker seat (Bremont). Check that the engraving and edition number match the papers.

7. Who you buy from. A Bremont retailer, an independent dealer and a private seller offer different protections. A dealer’s warranty is a promise from the dealer, not from Bremont. Our guide to buying from a private seller or a dealer sets out the differences.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch.

Frequently asked questions

Is Bremont a British company?

Yes. Bremont Watch Company Limited is registered in England (no. 05414485) and based in Henley-on-Thames (Companies House). Since April 2025 its majority owner has been the American investor Bill Ackman (Wikipedia).

Who founded Bremont?

The brothers Nick and Giles English, in 2002 (Wikipedia).

Why is it called Bremont?

After Antoine Bremont, a French farmer and former pilot who helped the brothers after an emergency landing on his land (JCK).

Where are Bremont watches made?

Bremont assembles, tests and services its watches at The Wing in Henley-on-Thames. Most use Swiss mechanical movements; the ENG300 series is made at The Wing on a licensed Swiss base movement (Bremont; Watchonista).

Does Bremont make its own movements?

Partly. The ENG300 series is built at The Wing from a base movement whose rights Bremont acquired from the Swiss firm THE+ (Watchonista). Other models use movements bought from Swiss suppliers (Bremont).

Who owns Bremont?

Bill Ackman, as majority owner and chairman since April 2025 (Wikipedia). BLTT Bidco Limited is registered at Companies House as a person with significant control.

How long is the Bremont warranty?

Three years from the original purchase, or five years on ENG300 models registered within 30 days, and on Wayfinder-logo watches bought after April 2024 that are registered for the extension (Bremont).

How often should a Bremont be serviced?

Bremont recommends every three to five years. Services are carried out at The Wing and a complete service comes with a two-year warranty (Bremont).

What is the Bremont MBI?

A watch made with the ejection-seat maker Martin-Baker in 2009 and sold only to people who have ejected from a Martin-Baker seat; each is engraved with the owner’s ejection number (Bremont).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Bremont.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.