In 2002, brothers Nick and Giles English (yeah, their last name is English) founded the quintessentially British watch brand, Best Bremont Jaguar MKI Watch , inspired by their former RAF pilot and aeronautical tinkerer dad, Dr. Euan English.  Since then, their beautifully made aviation-themed watches have been taking the world by storm carried on the wings of a Supermarine Spitfire.

 

A few months ago, we told you about the plans Jaguar has to finish the eighteen car run of Lightweight Aluminum E-Types begun in 1963 by building the final six that didn’t make it into production the first time around. Those cars (video and photo gallery below) are going to debut on Thursday in Pebble Beach at the Concours D’Elegance.  However, what we didn’t know last May was that joining the mega-rare Jaguar XKE in its unveiling will be a limited edition Bremont Jaguar chronometer designed to compliment the Lightweight E-Types.  And, boy is it awesome.

In case it isn’t already remarkable apparent, I kinda have a bremont jaguar watch replica for car and watch pair-ups.  Bugatti and Parmigiani, Oris and BMW, Jaeger-LeCoultre and Aston Martin, Hublot and Ferrari, Girard-Perregaux and Ferrari, Panerai and Ferrari… I love ’em all.  But, there’s something about Bremont and Jaguar that’s just… special.

I have trouble believing that Bremont watches are relatively young when I look at the maturity of their designs and quality of their craftsmanship.  But, if anything, that makes their partnership with one of my other favorite British brands, Jaguar, even more perfect.

And, anyone who doesn’t think the Jaguar E-Type (especially the Lightweight Aluminum XKE) is the best thing to ever come out of the United Kingdom needs to get their head examined.  The limited edition of only 6 pieces Bremont Jaguar chronometer might actually be the first watch to hold a candle to that greatest of cars.

Housed within a 43mm white gold case is Bremont’s first in-house proprietary self-winding movement (BWC/01).  Despite its 50-hour power reserve, I find myself staring at the Bremont Jaguar chronometer’s winding rotor which is a miniaturized version of the Jaguar E-Type’s steering wheel.

That’s quite fitting, since the black dial looks an aweful lot like the XKE’s tachometer (which is funny since the XKE used Smith gauges which were made by LeCoulre) and the crown bears engraving in the pattern of the period-correct Dunlop tires with which the Lightweight E-Types will be shod.  Details, people… It’s all about the details.

Each of the six unique Bremont Jaguar watches will bear the chassis number of the correlating Lightweight Aluminum E-Type at the six o’clock position.  I guess that’s how they can claim each of the six chronometers are “unique”.  No word on the cost of eight the Bremont Jaguar chronometers or the Jaguar Lightweight E-Types.  But, I reckon they’re both rather expensive.  Hopefully Bremont will make a non-limited edition, chassis-specific version of this bremont watch replica.  I’ve been wanting a Bremont for a while, and I think that would be the perfect one to get.  We’ll have to wait and see.

Bremont Jaguar Lightweight Aluminum E-Type Watch Highlights

• Jaguar and Bremont to create a series of six unique wrist watches
• Bespoke chronometers will complement the six new Lightweight E-types being built by Jaguar Heritage to finalise original 1963 production run
• 43mm watch features a black dial based on Lightweight E-type RPM gauge
• Chamfered hour and minute hands replicate the instrument’s tachometer needle
• Chassis number of the matching Lightweight E-type is printed at the six o’clock position
• Each watch carries engine number of the car it is paired with
• Aluminium saved from Lightweight E-type construction used in white gold cases
• Bremont debuts first proprietary self-winding movement, beautifully finished with a 50hr power reserve and fitted with ‘steering wheel’ rotor
• Winding crown engraved with the pattern of the period-correct Dunlop racing tyres to be fitted to the continuation Lightweights
• Alloy-spoked Lightweight steering wheel with authentic wooden rim found at the back of each watch, forming part of the rotor
• Bremont Jaguar Watch will make its public debut alongside the new Lightweight E-type at Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance 14 August 2014

JAGUAR ALUMINUM LIGHTWEIGHT E-TYPE COUPE PHOTOS… WOW!

TAP

Very, Very Limited Edition Bremont Jaguar Lightweight E-Type Watch Press Release

Bremont Jaguar Lightweight Jaguar E-Type Watch Press Release

• British watch company Bremont partners with Jaguar to create a series of six limited edition wristwatches
• These watches will complement the six continuation Lightweight E-Type vehicles being built by Jaguar Heritage
• This Bremont 43mm watch will feature a black dial based on the Lightweight E-Type tachometer
• Chamfered hour and minute hands replicate a tachometer needle
• Chassis number of the matching Lightweight E-Type will be featured at the six o’clock position. Each watch also carries the engine number of the car
• Aluminum remaining from the Lightweight E-Type build will be used to build these watches
• Bremont debuts first proprietary self-winding movement chronometer rated for accuracy and fitted with ‘steering wheel’ rotor
• Winding crown engraved with the pattern of the period-correct racing tires
• Alloy-spoked Lightweight steering wheel with authentic wooden rim found at the back of each watch.
• Watch will make its public debut alongside the new Lightweight E-Type at Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance on August 14, 2014

(MAHWAH, N.J.) – August 11, 2014 – Today Jaguar announces further news in its relationship with the Bremont Watch Company and reveals one of six unique wristwatches to be offered to customers of the six new Lightweight E-Type vehicles to be built by Jaguar Heritage.

“The Lightweight E-Type project is so special that we thought we really needed to create something which complemented the cars and, since most classic enthusiasts also tend to be horophiles, a wristwatch seemed to be the answer,” says Jaguar director of design, Ian Callum.

“Bremont was the obvious choice as a partner, both because we have worked closely together in the past on the clocks for the C-X75 and XJ75 Platinum concept cars and because, like Jaguar, it is a quintessentially British brand.”

Callum continued: “We didn’t want a watch that was too obvious in terms of design, but something which captured the spirit of the Lightweight in a subtle yet relevant way and I think Bremont has certainly achieved that goal.”

Giles English, who co-founded Bremont in 2002 with his brother, Nick, says the new Lightweight watches provided the firm with the perfect opportunity to take the important step of launching its own proprietary movement.

“We have been working on designing, developing and producing our first exclusive movement for more than a year, and it seems fitting that it is going to make one of its first appearances in this very special watch for Jaguar,” said Giles English

“Creating the watch proved to be a fascinating project, as we were given access to the Jaguar archives in order, for example, to ascertain the exact font for the numerals used on the dial of the original rev counters. The fact that we were required to make just six examples enabled us to be very creative in a way that is not always possible when designing a watch for larger scale production – and that’s why we have been able to feature touches such as using real wood for the rim of the ‘steering wheel’ winding rotor. Each watch is, essentially, bespoke.”

Drawing inspiration directly from the car, the 43mm watch features a black dial based on the look of a Lightweight tachometer and features a subtle ‘red zone’ quadrant. The chamfered hour and minute hands replicate the instrument’s tachometer needle, while the chassis number of the relevant car is printed at the six o’clock position.

The central band of the white gold case is made from aluminum remaining from construction of the new Lightweight body panels and will be anodized to match the color of the car it is designed to complement.

Other touches include a winding crown which is engraved with the pattern of the period-correct racing tires used on the continuation Lightweights, and straps made from the same Connolly leather which is being used for the interior trim.

Turning the watch over reveals an automatic winding rotor shaped like the alloy-spoked Lightweight steering wheel, which is visible through a sapphire crystal case back. The details of the rotor include an authentic wooden rim. The back of each watch carries the engine number of the car it is paired with.

Jaguar first collaborated with the British watch company during the launch of the cutting edge Jaguar C-X75 in 2010, for which Bremont developed an analog dashboard clock keeping with the 778 horsepower hybrid supercar’s futuristic nature and 205 mph performance.

The two quintessentially British firms have now reinforced their partnership following the announcement earlier this year that Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations division would complete the Lightweight E-Type project through its Jaguar heritage division.

The new cars are the ‘missing’ six vehicles from the ‘Special GT E-type’ project, which originally started in February 1963 with the objective of building 18 cars. Only 12 of the aluminum-bodied Lightweight E-Type vehicles were eventually built and the remaining six designated chassis numbers having lain dormant, until now. The six new cars will carry those original, historic Lightweight E-Type chassis numbers.

Each of the six cars will be built to the exact specification of the last Lightweight E-Type produced in 1964 and will be hand-crafted at the original home of the E-Type, Browns Lane in Coventry, England. The cars will be sold as period competition vehicles and all will be suitable for FIA homologation for historic motorsport purposes.

A race winner in the hands of a variety of famous drivers during its competitive career, the car has achieved worldwide fame and original examples are highly sought after. In recreating the Lightweight E-Type, Jaguar Heritage has been able to call on the superlative skills and experience of many talented engineers and technicians within JLR.

The launch of this exclusive Lightweight E-Type watch marks the start of a long term relationship for Jaguar and Bremont. Future editions will be announced at a later date.

SPECIFICATIONS – BREMONT LIGHTWEIGHT E-TYPE CHRONOMETER

Case: 43mm white gold case with aluminum center ring made from the remaining material used in the construction of the Lightweight E-Type

Movement: BWC/01 Bremont proprietary, self-winding movement, chronometer rated for accuracy and fitted with ‘steering wheel’ rotor.

Dial: Based on Lightweight tachometer and marked with car chassis number.

Strap: Connolly leather, same as used for Lightweight E-Type upholstery.

Number to be built: Six