Review : Bremont Supermarine S301 BK Diver Watch

My first ever proper watch review? Hey, let’s go for it. I recently came across a common issue in the watch collecting world of a collection starting to grow with some new pieces coming in and some then not getting the proper wrist time they deserved.

This then turned into the first ever piece I considered parting ways with in over 9 years of owning watches. The one in question was my Omega Seamaster 2254.50 black dial with quartz movement. It felt like this watch was sitting in my box just not getting the appreciation it deserved, so I spoke to a few watch mates and came to the decision that I was going to sell it on, let someone else enjoy it and get something new. But what?

Thoughts

In my time collecting I have acquired a few different styles and brands of watches, from a sports Tag Heuer F1 (which was my first ever) to something that little bit more dressy in the form of a Hamilton Jazzmaster Viewmatic (again this was a first, this time my first ever automatic, you see they all have their own stories). Going through my head was “I want something different” and a few things were floating around in the idea stage.

Scottish Watches and TOCKR Watches

Being someone who works in the watch industry, this gave me a lot of options from a lot of brands which I regularly got to try on for size and to play about with. I eventually narrowed my options down to a few models from a BlackBay 36mm Heritage to a vintage quartz Vacheron Constantin I found lurking on Chrono24. Until one day I eventually stumbled across the Bremont Supermarine S301 BK.

Target Acquired

This was indeed my “something different” and that difference comes from the nationality of the watch which for those unfamiliar with the brand is produced in Henley On Thames, England. It was quite recently that I found myself interested in Bremont and how they came to be a watch manufacturer, their small but interesting history and of course their products.

The S301 stood out most as a personal choice because I love a diver style watch, and I feel personally it’s a watch that can be dressed both up and down. You can wear it on holiday to the beach with a nato or wear it to business events on a sophisticated leather strap. It’s a great everyday occasion watch and I knew it was something that would get a lot of wrist time as the minute I saw it I loved it. That’s something I strongly believe in as both a watch collector and someone who works in the industry, don’t get a watch and say “That will do” or you just “Like”; get a watch that you LOVE!

The Watch Itself

The S301 is a lovely vintage inspired divers watch with a 40mm case and a 20mm lug width that comes with various different strap options, however I chose to have mine on the lovely vintage style brown calf skin leather with two lines of stitching below each lug. Everything feels nice about this watch, from twisting the unidirectional bezel to the smoothness of turning the crown.

The watch itself as mentioned is 40mm, however I don’t have the worlds largest wrists but this wears like a 38mm and for me that feels spot on. Dial wise we have a classic dive inspired look, the small date window at 3 fits in perfectly with the smaller dial. There is also the Supermarine name written in a bold shade of red that really stands out for me along side the red tip of the seconds hand. Over all very easy to read.

As per the era it emulates, the watch also has no crown guards which makes the crown itself very accessible and easy to use, as it should always be and this is not a worry unless you are going to be smashing your wrists off under water rock formations which lets be honest is pretty unlikely.

Turn the watch over and unfortunately we don’t have an open case back. Not a deal breaker, just for me I enjoy being able to see the inside of my watch. This has instead been replaced with a stunning image of a S6B Supermarine sea plane, because it wouldn’t be Bremont without that aviation reference and imagery!

Something that bothers a lot of people is what’s inside the watch movement wise. This S301 has an industry standard 38 hour power reserve and an amazing chronometer certified calibre so no worries there. I’m not one for specs and technical jargon, so even if the watch stops after 38 hours of no wrist time I don’t really care. I like the interaction with the watch, setting it and winding it up I feel is all part of the enjoyment of a mechanical timepiece.

One final thing I’d like to add is the presentation of the whole package. Bremont issue each watch with a stunning leather watch wallet case of extremely high quality plus an included Bremont strap removal tool which is a great touch. Plus, on the after sales side of things they offer as standard, a 3 year manufactures warranty which is great as a lot of brands still stick to only offering 2 years which on a luxury item does seem a little on the low side.

A Month On Wrist

I’ve owned the Bremont for just around a month now and can happily say I’m glad I went for it. I have massively enjoyed wearing this watch and how comfortable and easy it is to use day to day. I’ve only just taken it off the original leather strap and put a NATO on it, and it wears just as good on either!

I also enjoy wearing a brand that is just that little bit different too. The watch is similar to the likes of other divers such as your Black Bay, Fifty Fathoms and Seamaster but I don’t know, I just click so well with it and feel it’s one that will be in my collection for a long time to come. I hope Bremont as company continue going the way they are onto bigger and bigger things as the years go on. Definitely one to check out and give consideration to when you next go hunting a quality diver that stands just outside the old favourites most people look to first.


Find out more at Bremont


MOVEMENT
Modified calibre 11 ½ BE-92AE automatic chronometer
Bremont decorated rotor and 21 jewels
Glucydur balance
Anachron balance spring
Nivaflex 1 mainspring
Rated frequency of 28,800 A/h
38-hour minimum power reserve.

FUNCTIONS
Hour, minute and sweeping second hands
Stop second function and date at 3
Adjusted via screw-down decorated crown.

CASE
Stainless steel Bremont Trip-Tick® case
scratch resistant DLC treated case barrel
Case diameter 40mm
Overall height 13mm
Strap lug width 20mm
Laser engraved ceramic uni-directional rotating bezel
Super-LumiNova
Water resistant to 30 ATM, 300 metres
Stainless steel screw-down decorated case back.

STRAP
Brown vintage leather strap

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