Bremont announces its first release of 2023 with the launch of the Bremont Broadsword Recon watch. The limited edition of 200 pieces joins their Armed Forces collection, a series of ‘Dirty Dozen’-inspired watches created in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD).
In 2019, Bremont announced a new partnership with the Ministry of Defence and paid tribute to His Majesty’s Armed Forces with the Armed Forces watch collection. With this, Bremont became the sole luxury watch brand permitted to use the signs, symbols, and heraldic badges of all three services: the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. In honour of the three services, three Bremont Armed Forces watches were released: the Argonaut, Arrow and Broadsword. The latter has certainly seen the most limelight over the years, with the original black-dialled, steel-case model later joined by a trio of Bremont Broadsword Bronze watches and the blacked out Bremont Broadsword Jet watch. For 2023, the British watch manufacturer plays off the military phrase ‘recon’ short for reconnaissance, which refers to the act of gathering information about an enemy or a potential battlefield. The Bremont Broadsword Recon Limited Edition is a fitting tribute to this act, boasting a stealthy, matte black sandwich dial with a high degree of vintage lume on the hands and Arabic numerals.
Nick English, Bremont Co-Founder comments on the Bremont Broadsword Recon watch: “The Recon harks back to the original Dirty Dozen watches synonymous with military and exploration heritage yet feels incredibly modern on the wrist through the sandwich dial and a lovely saturated lume effect. We introduced a sandwich dial for the first time with our Bamford collaboration and absolutely loved the result so are thrilled to be bringing it back with this model also offering something that feels quite different within our Armed Forces stable of watches.”
The Case
Looking just at the case, the Bremont Broadsword Recon Limited Edition watch appears to replicate the Bremond Broadsword watches from before with the two-piece stainless steel architecture measuring to 40mm in diameter and 12.5mm in height. The same three speed lines are engraved down both sides, spanning under the oversized screw in crown at 3 o’clock decorated with the Bremont propeller logo. There’s also the same curved lugs, satin-polished finishing, 100 metre water resistant rating and domed sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment.
The Bremont Broadsword Recon watch also retains the same stamped case back showcasing the badges of all three services and lettering stating ‘Approved by Her Majesty’s Armed Forces’. Bremont have said that once the King’s crest has been decreed all case backs within Armed Forces collection will be updated accordingly. As such, it’s worth noting that the first set of Bremont Broadsword Recon Limited Edition watches released will still honour our former Queen on the case back, making them arguably more valuable in the eyes of collectors.
The Dial
Bremont continues to make history with the Bremont Broadsword Recon watch as it’s the first in the Armed Forces collection to debut a sandwich dial. Its layered construction comprises of a solid disc of luminous material placed beneath a second plate with cuts out for the index apertures. This allows the cut outs for the numerals to expose the lume beneath. Not only increasing legibility in the dark, this technique adds a satisfying visual depth to the display. In this instance, the Bremont Broadsword Recon Limited Edition elects a matte black dial with vintage-coloured lume beneath, glowing vibrant green in the dark. The dial also features a glossy black sloped minutes ring, a sunken small seconds counter at 6 o’clock and a date window at 3 o’clock. The sword-shaped hands for the hours and minutes are also adorned in Superluminova inserts.
The Movement
The Bremont Broadsword Recon watch houses the familiar BE-95-2AV automatic winding movement inside its 40mm steel case. Chronometer rated, the movement ensures high levels of reliability and accuracy alongside a 38 hour power reserve and frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. The movement also comes equipped with 31 jewels, a Glucydur balance wheel, an Anachron balance spring and a Nivaflex mainspring. The movement is kept from view by the MoD-decorated case back.
The Strap
Completing the Bremont Broadsword Recon Limited Edition is a choice of three straps. The first is a military-inspired NATO strap with stone and grey stripes, the second is a black rubber band and the third is a vintage brown leather strap with contrasting white stitching. All three straps are completed by a brushed stainless steel pin buckle.
Price & Availability
The Bremont Broadsword Recon watch is a limited edition of 200 pieces and retails at £3,195. You can secure one for yourself on the Jura Watches website here or by contacting the team. Call us on 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
