The fascinating alliance between Bremont and Martin-Baker

A look at how the partnership between the aviation watchmaker and ejection seat manufacturer reached sky-high success

If you consider yourself a watch connoisseur, you’ll agree with Bremont’s motto that the pilot watch should be made to endure everything the pilot does. Whether referencing the time whilst in light-limiting conditions, performing complex air-bound manoeuvres or making an emergency landing – a pilot watch needs to withstand the rigours of cockpit-bound duties. And, yes, that does include a pilot’s last line of defence – an impromptu and impactful ejection seat manoeuvre.

There’s only one name that springs to mind when we think of these life-saving aircraft seats. That name is Martin-Baker and it’s solely responsible for producing 70 percent of the world’s Air Forces with life-saving equipment. And when you peruse the current horological market, you’ll only find one name synonymous with defying the same rigorous testing programme that these seats are subjected to – the name is Bremont. Thus goes the story of Bremont and Martin-Baker.

A unique alliance – Bremont and Martin-Baker

Bremont does not make watches purely for aesthetical purposes, nor does it craft exclusively functional tools without superb style though it does excel in both of those areas. Moreover, the brand from the small British town of Henley-on-Thames has been producing professional-looking instruments since 2002, whose design language reflects the fascination of its two founding brothers – Nick and Giles English – for everything to do with aviation and mechanical engineering.

Over the years, Bremont has collaborated with many influential companies. It has formed relationships with the world of motorsport racing, proudly keeping time for the F1 Williams Racing Team and has supported Bimini Shark Lab with the 500M water-resistant Waterman Apex, not to mention designing an eye-catching Aurora Borealis-inspired timepiece with Bamford Watch Company.

A Pilot’s watch should endure everything the pilot does.

The British brothers have ventured into areas of sports gear, collaborating with cycling clothing company Rapha, and have become proud partners to the MoD (Ministry of Defence), becoming the only brand granted permission to display the heraldic badges upon its many military-esque designs. As well as these fruitful partnerships, the watchmaker also nurtures a family of brand ambassadors that includes freedivers and conservationists, Ocean Ramsey and Juan Oliphant, big-wave surfer, Laird Hamilton, and British actor Mark Strong.

All that said, perhaps no partnership could perpetuate the watchmaker’s passion for exceptional craftsmanship and unwavering quality more than the one it fosters with British Aviation company, Martin-Baker. The ejection seat specialists have been celebrating their alliance with the chronometer engineer since 2007. Both brands share roots deeply anchored in British soil, so much so that the watches from the MB line perfectly embody the “Made in Britain” ethos.

Bremont Martin-Baker MBI

Where it all started

The first of the Martin-Baker designs arrived in 2009. Bremont put the robust and overly engineered design to the test, strapping it to the wrist of a manikin and launching it from a test fighter cockpit at 15G forces, propelling it from an ejection seat to 120 feet in an eye-watering 2 seconds. The MBI must also withstand extreme temperature fluctuations from minus 46°C to plus 49°C, and perform well under extreme vibration, shock, and in salty and foggy conditions.

The MBI was initially made available exclusively to those who got out of a Martin-Baker seat themselves. The distinctive model boasted a striking red barrel and an engraved number depicting the individual’s ejection seat number. Today, MBI’s customers include not only the passengers ejected by Martin-Baker, but also Air Force chiefs, congressmen and senators. Even TV host Jimmy Fallon acquired one for his father-in-law who ejected from a Navy F8U Crusader fighter jet.

Bremont Martin-Baker MBII

The evolution of the Bremont MB Watch

The second generation, the MBII, was made available to all and was followed by the MBIII – the first Bremont watch to feature a non-chronograph GMT movement in 2014. Suffice it to say, it was subjected to all the same tests. Its bronze aluminium barrel – with a knurled effect to echo elements of the seats – was inspired by F-22 Raptor fighter jet projects, while the yellow and black loop detailing on the seconds hand referenced the ejection pull handle.

In 2016, a white version of the MBII arrived, marking 7,500 lives saved by Martin-Baker’s pioneering ejection seat technology. It was superseded by a 100th-anniversary commission, marking the US Navy’s oldest flying squadron, the VFA-14. This was followed by 2020 updates that enabled collectors to configure their very own designs.

Bremont Martin-Baker MBIII

Many years and counting

Today, the symbiotic relationship between Bremont and Martin-Baker is as strong as ever, with a rich and rewarding partnership that now spans over many years. The collectable variations of the coloured barrels and multiple variations of the striking second hand make it a perfect candidate for customisation and a symbol of Bremont’s successful contribution to the aviation industry and the military.