DROP IN: Benchpeg visits the Bremont Manufacturing & Technology Centre

Last month we were luckily enough to get a guided tour of the purpose built Bremont Watch Facility which is nestled in the beautiful countryside near Henley-on-Thames.

Quintessentially English, the drive to the Bremont Manufacturing & Technology Centre has to be one of the most auspicious I’ve had, as its location is wrapped around by the cloak of the Thames and adjacent to the picture perfect watery village of Sonning overlooking polo fields with Red Kite majestically hovering in the moody grey sky above.

The journey set the tone. Affectionately called ‘The Wing’, the facility is exacting, much like it’s product. Part showroom, part exhibition, part clientele hospitality, the main public spaces have been thoughtfully curated to demonstrate the values and ethos behind the proudly British brand.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have had experience in horology environments previously, being an alumni of the School of Jewellery in Birmingham and having visited the classroom facilities there, I understand the precision and cleanliness of the working environment required.

Bremont is something else though. Their Air, Land and Sea motif and inherent connection with engineering and its value stands out. Thoughtfully built upon from the founder brother’s family values and experiences, is clear to see and feel that engineering, the need for exacting precision and excellence runs through the brand’s blood and is not just some fancy add on.

The emphasis on performance across Air (Altitude), Land (Terra Nova/Motorsport) and Sea (Supermarine) of the product, designed bespoke to perform in the harshest of environments reflects authentic British engineering heritage, and the company is extremely proud of this.

Two brother’s and their unique upbringing and exposure to mechanics through their father was the kernel in an idea that years later would become reality for two boys fascinated in movement and engineering.

The concept behind the brand ethos - that of making accessible precision luxury to the highest quality without being prohibitively expensive - through years of honing manufacturing processes and sourcing of specialist parts through Swiss suppliers illustrates not only ambition of the brand but also grounding in its founding principals – proudly British, confident in execution, honest in positioning.

There is a gallery of brand ambassadors displayed as you walk between spaces, famous and familiar faces and some which are not, because these watches are tested ‘in the field’ by professionals, and provide feedback and whilst exposing their timepieces to the harshest of conditions. There are tangible connections to regular and special forces with bespoke models and designs created for different serving squadrons and military insignia are displayed in prominent positions throughout.

The tour culminated with Davide Cerrato, CEO the watchmaker, who was appointed in 2023 to lead the company's brand, product design and strategic growth. He gave a fascinating insight into the watch industry, markets and growth ambition.

It was a real treat to take a peak behind the scenes, learn about the programme of employment and skills training the company is working through and to understand the journey that this ambitious company has made, and is still building on. I understand that the business now has aspirations to tackle the extremes of the fourth frontier in the near future… which sort of sums up the limitless ambition of the true application of precision engineering.