British brand Bremont today unveiled a new limited edition timepiece, the second watch it has produced as part of its association with record-breaking polar explorer Ben Saunders. The new Bremont Endurance was purpose-built and tested by Saunders on his recent Trans-Antarctic Solo Expedition in November 2017.
It may be recalled that Bremont introduced the Supermarine Terra Nova limited edition in 2014 to honor Saunder’s expedition - the longest human-powered polar journey in history, an incredible 2,896 –km trip. It was the first time Captain Robert Scott’s ill-fated Terra Nova expedition (191—1913) had ever been completed.
In November 2017, Saunders set out to make the first solo and unsupported crossing of Antarctica. This west-to-east traverse from Berkner Island to the Ross Ice Shelf via the South Pole and the Shackleton Glacier was planned by Ben’s close friend Lt Col Henry Worsley, who nearly completed the expedition before falling ill and passing away in hospital in Chile in January 2016. Incidentally, Saunders was forced abandon his quest to cross Antarctica unassisted after "ferocious" conditions left him without enough food to complete his journey.
Based on the Supermarine S500, the new Endurance uses a 43 mm lightweight titanium case with a mix of satin-brushed and polished surfaces. It is fitted with a bi-directional rotating compass bezel with luminous markings. The case has a protective patented antishock movement mount and a helium escape valve at the 2 o’ clock position. Just like the S500 watches, this model is water-resistant to 500 meters.
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The dial uses the same template as previous Supermarine S500 save for some minor tweaks. A stamped pattern of the globe appears on the dial and has a North indicator on the GMT hand, all designed for ease of navigation and clarity against the stark white of Antarctica. The applied metal indexes and hands are filled with SuperLuminova for optimum legibility.
The exhibition caseback reveals the COSC-certified Caliber BE-93-2AE, a self-winding, heavily modified chronometer movement based on the ETA 2892-A2. It features a skeletonized decorated rotor and has a power reserve of 42 hours. The watch is paired with either a bright orange Nato strap or titanium bracelet and an additional rubber strap. The watch is limited to just 300 pieces and is priced at $6,730 (Approx. AED25,000).
