There is perhaps no other luxury watch brand that embraces its heritage quite as much as Bremont, who today honours one of the Britain’s greatest scientific heroes in their new Bremont Hawking Limited Edition watch collection. Designed in collaboration with the Hawking family, the British watch manufacturer has created something entirely unique to themselves, and anyone else in the industry for that fact, releasing a trio of men’s limited editions and a ladies’ model dedicated entirely to the late Professor Stephen Hawking.
Still youthful in its history, having only been founded 12 years ago, Bremont has taken no prisoners in becoming Britain’s largest watch manufacturer. Their back catalogue is filled with remarkable special and limited edition timepieces designed to celebrate their British heritage, from the iconic Jaguar D-Type to the Armed Forces collection and the Battle of Britain set. It is this patriotism and unique use of historic materials that has set them apart from competitors, and the collection of Bremont Hawking Limited Edition watches offers just that with remarkable complications, subtle historical references to the professor and even a piece of wood lifted from the drawer from the desk that once belonged to Stephen Hawking.
“The Hawking Collection is a slight divergence from some of the historic limited editions we’ve become known for at Bremont. Other than celebrating a true British legend, the story has added personal significance for myself and Nick as our father knew of Stephen Hawking having been to St Albans School together, a couple of years apart, and following the same path to Cambridge University. As with each of Bremont’s historic limited editions there is also a philanthropic dimension. It’s been a real honour working closely with the Hawking family on this project who founded the ‘Stephen Hawking Foundation’ which facilitates cosmological research as well as support for those who live with Motor Neurone Disease; part of the proceeds from these watches will be going directly to the charity.” – Bremont Co-Founder, Giles English
Bremont Hawking Men’s Limited Edition Watches
Bremont’s 10th iconic limited edition, the trio of Bremont Hawking Men’s watches honour and preserve a piece of history within its very design. From its dial to its case back, each detail has been carefully chosen to commemorate Professor Stephen Hawking’s fascination with time. At the back, through integrated flat sapphire crystal, a meteorite inlay is surrounded by four special wooden discs that are engineered from the desk where Stephen Hawking worked from 1975 until his death two years ago. This singular detail and its tangible connection to the birthplace of some of the world’s greatest scientific discoveries is almost hard to imagine, and yet it is far from the only one.
The meteorite sample on the back of each Bremont Hawking Limited Edition watch also holds significance as it reinforces Hawking’s unwavering dedication to understanding outer space. Beside it, an individual serial number is laser engraved onto an original copy of Hawking’s hugely influential research paper called “The ‘nuts’ and ‘bolts’ of gravity.” A stunning adornment of stars surround its entirety taken from the Oxford sky on the very night of Hawking’s birth. Surrounding the meteorite disc are the words “A Brief History of Time”, the name of one of his most iconic books along with an example of one of his equations that summarises Hawking’s famous black hole theory.
The three Bremont Hawking Men’s Limited Editions are presented in a choice of stainless steel, 18 carat rose gold or 18 carat white gold, all uniform other than their case material, strap, dial colour and number of limited edition pieces. The stainless steel variant comes with a classic black dial, black alligator leather strap and is limited to 388 pieces. There are 88 pieces of the rose gold and white gold models, with the rose gold boasting a black dial and black leather strap and the white gold standing out with a blue dial and blue alligator leather strap. The limited edition values have been purposely chosen to reference the year in which Hawking’s “Brief History of Time” was published, 1988.
Continuing to commemorate one of our country’s greatest minds, the dial of each Bremont Hawking watch is dominated by a central black hole-inspired spiral pattern motivated by Stephen Hawking’s work on the nature of these cosmic occurrences. A choice of nickel or rose gold hands with white Superluminova take up the centre alongside a 360 degree marked dial ring in which a small section is marked off as “Sunlight Travel” to mark the 8 minutes and 20 seconds it takes for light from the sun to reach the surface of the earth. The dial is protected by scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass treated with an anti-reflective coating and paired with a screw in crown to achieve a handy 100 metre water resistant rating.
Housed within each 41mm case is the BE-33AE automatic winding movement, a unique calibre that delivers a remarkable range of complications. Alongside the classic central hands for hours and minutes, the Bremont Hawking Men’s Limited Editions feature a 120 degree retrograde 30 seconds sub dial at 6 o’clock and a double window big date at the 12 o’clock position. The 29 jewelled mechanical calibre also promises a 42 hour power reserve and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour.
Specifications: Bremont Hawking Men’s Limited Edition Watches (HAWKING-SS-R-S, HAWKING-WG-R-S, HAWKING-RG-R-S)
- Case Size: 41mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel, 18 carat rose gold or 18 carat white gold
- Bezel: Fixed
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in
- Case Back: Integrated flat sapphire crystal with unique decoration
- Water Resistance: 100 metres
- Movement: BE-33-AE
- Functions: Hours, minutes, retrograde 30 seconds sub dial, double window big date
- Power Reserve: 42 hours
- Jewels: 29
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Matte black or matte blue
- Hands: White Superluminova
- Strap: Black or blue alligator leather
- Limited Edition: 388 pieces (Steel), 88 pieces (Gold)
- RRP: £7,995 (Steel), £17,995 (Rose Gold), £18,995 (White Gold)
Bremont Hawking Quantum Ladies Limited Edition Watch
Marking many firsts, the Bremont Hawking Quantum Ladies Limited Edition is the only Bremont ladies’ watch to be part of a limited edition collection and is also their first ever watch to utilise diamonds. Since the release of their Solo 32 and Solo 34 collections, it has been a while since Bremont have provided any alternative offering for women so the addition of a ladies’ limited edition piece will be welcome by many. To complement the men’s Hawking models, the Bremont Hawking Quantum Ladies similarly tributes Professor Stephen Hawking with a stunning display of direct and subtle references to the great physicist.
Centre stage, the dial of the Bremont Hawking Quantum Ladies Limited Edition is engineered entirely from meteorite which again reinforces Hawking’s connection to outer space. The textured finish of the meteorite pairs elegantly with polished nickel hands, 60 white brilliant cut 1.35mm VVS FG diamonds on the bezel and 11 baton indexes similarly decorated with 33 claw set 0.8mm VVS FG diamonds. Powering the hour, minute, seconds and date complications is the BE-92AV automatic winding calibre which promises a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, a 38 hour power reserve and 25 jewels.
The intricate construction of the mechanical movement can be witnessed through the case back where a beautifully crafted black hole spiral-inspired tungsten rotor spins with every movement of the wrist. Like the 41mm men’s models, the case back also showcases a special wooden inlay crafted from the very wood of Stephen Hawking’s desk. The 50 metre water resistant case is engineered from classic stainless steel using Bremont’s Trip-Tick construction and measures to 34mm in diameter and 10.5mm in height. The Bremont Hawking Ladies watch is limited to only 88 pieces.
Specifications: Bremont Hawking Quantum Ladies Limited Edition Watch (HAWKING-LADIES-SS-B)
- Case Size: 34mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel
- Bezel: Fixed with 60 white brilliant cut diamonds
- Glass: Sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Case Back: Integrated flat exhibition crystal with unique decoration
- Water Resistance: 50 metres
- Movement: BE-92AV automatic winding
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 25
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Full meteorite with 11 applied batons and 33 claw set diamonds
- Hands: Polished nickel
- Strap: Stainless steel bracelet
- Limited Edition: 88 pieces
- RRP: £7,995
