Bremont is a UK-based watchmaking company that has remained a fan-favourite for many watch aficionados. Most followers of the brand laud its connections to British aviation and the intriguing watches that emerge. Bremont H-4 Hercules collection is a series of timepieces in stainless steel and precious metals developed and produced by Bremont.
It pays homage to the Spruce Goose and combines a piece of – a famous element of military or aviation history, Bremont’s latest edition reminisces the incredible tale of a giant plane that almost ever took flight – the H-4 Hercules. These timepieces also generate some funds to continually secure the collection of the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville, OR.
The details that differentiated the H-4 Hercules from nearly every other aircraft made before or since – firstly, the flying boat was built from birchwood, a condition of the government contract the famous Hughes had won to build it. The Spruce Goose, which took flight only one time from Cabrillo Beach, ended up being just a trivial accomplishment in the skies, the H4-Hercules watch from Bremont however, have a look that infers long-term lift-off.
Bremont founders Nick and Giles English have a profound and deep passion in aviation; they put a lot into this special edition, with their first-ever platinum timepiece, and small pieces of the Hercules built into the movement. The watch itself is a very simple GMT in a vintage pilot’s watch style; a great blend of micro-engineering, watch design and aviation history.
Over the years, Bremont has been notably popular for, among other things, integrating visible components of the aircraft that inspire their watches in the watches themselves. The H-4 Hercules is a prime example of this, a component of a lasting series of high end, exceptionally limited tribute watches in this vein, and there are no doubts aviation fanatics will be thrilled with what Bremont has achieved here.
Dial
The watch is offered in steel, rose gold or platinum, each with distinct dial tones and colours; the steel one uses a matte black dial with mock patina tones and pointed hands done in smoothed nickel. The dials of the rose gold and platinum versions differ a little bit, each in directions that play on their respective precious metal.
Bremont H-4 Hercules Limited Edition Stainless Steel Grey (Fabric strap)
The rose gold variant has a sunray brown with gold tones. the applied hour markers are polished and add a real high-end 3-D element to the dia. The platinum variant also uses a sunray brown with silver tones. They both have a warmer brown and light tan colour pattern for the 24-hour outer ring.
Finally, the rose gold edition has a matching dark brown second sub-dial, while the platinum edition seconds sub-dial is a lighter tone that matches the colour of the daytime section of the 24-hour outer ring. Every dial has an outer curved GMT ring, a pilot-themed minute ring just inside this, and applied Arabic numbers for every hour.
Ultimately, the seconds sub-dial at nine o’clock is equally outstanding with just sufficient guilloché on the dial to bring that modest visual difference. Between the GMT hand, the hour markers, the seconds sub-dial, and the date aperture at six o’clock, each is made in a right goldilocks zone of decoration and design. The 24-hour outer ring is executed in black for nighttime and a modest and on-theme tan for daytime hours.
Case
All three versions are presented in a 43mm-wide case that sits 14.4mm-high on the wrist. The lugs are well-curved on the wrist, though the H-4 Hercules is on the larger side of a 43mm-wide case. Undoubtedly, it is made in the brand Bremont ‘Trip Tick®’ case style, which means that itis made with three pieces rather than the regular two-piece case.
The crown is impressive; a toned-down onion-style screw-down crown that does not go virulent with bulbousness for the sake of some made-up genuineness. It pulls out and turns satisfactorily, not being too difficult to grip.
The open case back uncovers the BWC/02 movement, with a specially-crafted propeller-shaped rotor with real birch wood from the Spruce Goose in the propeller blades. The use of wood where we would commonly see something metallic has an intriguing impact and gives a handmade touch to the finished product.
Ultimately, turning the Bremont H-4 Hercules over shows the new Bremont BWC/02 movement that Giles English verified will only be utilized for this collection. That certainly would be evident when you consider that the four-bladed propellor-style rotor is designed using birchwood taken out from the real Spruce Goose. The BWC/02 regulates at 28,800 vph and has a 50-hour power reserve. I do enjoy how the balance cock, barrel bridge, and train bridge are all built in a Galvanized NAC (Nickel Anthracite Coating) which provides it with a darker look that reminds of the 1940’s era aircraft the timepiece is inspired by.
Wearability
Summarily, there are 300 pieces of this limited-edition timepiece available in stainless steel with a matt-black dial, polished applied indexes and nickel hands filled with highly easy-to-read Super-LumiNova.
To improve its positioning as an aviator’s watch of choice, it has a brand onion-shaped crown — for ease of use while wearing thick leather gloves — and comes on a classic brown leather strap. The tie-in with the Spruce Goose goes with the packaging, which is formulated from English-made bridle leather sewn with original aileron fabric from the aircraft’s control textures.
Price
Given the quality of the materials utilised, the price point of the Bremont H-4 Hercules is justified. As a limited edition collection, there are only 300 pieces made in stainless steel and 75 each in rose gold and platinum.
The Bremont H-4 Hercules in steel is priced at around £9,495; the rose gold variant is £18,995 and the top-range platinum case model, it is priced at £24,995.
