The two British firms are enhancing their long-term partnership following the creation of six Bremont chronometers which complement each of the six ‘continuation’ lightweight E-type sports racing cars currently being built by Jaguar Land Rover Special Operations.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrNDwOQsu6o)
The new watches feature design inspired by the Jaguar E-type sports car, which at its 1961 launch was not only the fastest production car in the world but - according to Enzo Ferrari - the most beautiful.
“Like the Bremont watch we designed to complement the Special GT, or ‘Lightweight’ E-type continuation cars, the MKI and MKII pieces had to capture the spirit of what is undoubtedly one of the most iconic sports cars of all time in a subtle and intelligent way,” says Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum.
“The result is a pair of watches which subtly relay some of the codes of the E-type, but which are also easy to recognise as having been created with the car in mind. They simply look absolutely right when you wear them in the driving seat - almost as if they had been designed alongside the car back in the ‘60s.”
In working to capture the E-type’s essence in a wrist watch, Jaguar’s Director of Design Ian Callum and the creative team at Bremont selected the E-type dashboard as inspiration for the look of the new Mk I and Mk II watches.
The MKI responds to the call for a more accessible version of the original ‘Lightweight’ limited edition watch by reproducing many of its design features, but eschews the white gold and aluminium of the Lightweight’s case for a slimmer version finished in polished stainless steel.
A date window at the six o’clock position on the tachymetre-inspired dial is similar to that of the Lightweight, featuring an off-set small ‘seconds’ indicator and a distinctive ‘red line’ quadrant between three and four o’clock.
Behind the dial and domed crystal of the 43mm MKI watch lies a new movement with date functionality based on Bremont’s meticulously finished self-winding proprietary BWC/01.
Turning the MKI over not only reveals the beautifully finished movement through the sapphire crystal case back, but also one of the most intriguing features of the watch: a striking automatic winding weight in the form of an exquisite miniaturisation of a three-spoke E-type steering wheel, complete with the iconic Jaguar ‘Growler’ face in its centre.
The MKII celebrates the golden era of 1960s sports car motoring, its black dial carrying the Jaguar heritage logo above the six o’clock position and its hour markings presented in the style of the numerals found on E-type instruments.
The classic chronograph layout - featuring two subdials at the three o’clock and nine o’clock positions - is achieved through the use of the beautifully decorated BE-50AE automatic movement which has been specially customised by Bremont to a unique specification, a subtle ‘red line’ on the 60-minute counter paying homage to the E-type’s tachymeter.
The 43mm, stainless steel case - which is fitted with a domed crystal to enhance the vintage appearance of the watch - is made entirely in the UK by Bremont using its renowned, three-part ‘Trip-Tick’ technology which ensures hardness seven times greater than that of a normal steel watch.
Visible through a sapphire crystal case back, the mechanism again pays tribute to the E-type with an automatic ‘steering wheel’ winding weight in the same style as that of the MKI. Further automotive imagery can be seen in the ‘tyre tread’ winding crown, which is topped with the Jaguar heritage logo to match that of the dial.
MKI and MKII watches will be supplied with a perforated ‘racing’ strap in true ‘60s style, together with traditional leather spare.
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