Bremont U-2/DLC Luxury Watch Review

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This is the Bremont U-2/DLC, and like its close cousin, the Bremont MB II, it's one you want to own. The one you don't? That would be the Bremont MB I; only survivors of actual Martin-Baker ejection seat evacuations are permitted to order that one.

We hear the full Martin-Baker experience can deduct years from your life... and inches from your total height. So let's stick to the Bremont U-2/DLC, which packs all the panache and features of the MB I without the rocket-propelled windfall for your chiropractor.

Bremont’s 2009-present “Martin-Baker” (MB) series has been a sensation with collectors of aviation timepieces, and the MB series adds a new element of intrigue with the U-2/DLC (diamond-like carbon). Lockheed Martin’s U-2 spy plane provides clandestine inspiration for the new Bremont aviation model.

Now in its seventh (!) decade of secret service, the U-2 spyplane was designed at the height of the Cold War to keep tabs on you-know-who. The infamous 1960 downing of U.S. pilot Francis Gary Powers in Soviet Airspace added heat to the Cold War… and proved a fine showcase for the Martin-Baker ejection seat.

This 43mm sports watch combines the essence of Bremont in a versatile package that suits any occasion: business suit or bathing suit. Bremont has built its name on its aviation-inspired chronometer watches, and the young firm (established 2002) has risen to prominence with meteoric speed. Recent prominence on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon brought the company's MB series of pilot's models into mainstream view, and the result has been a surge of collector interest in the model line.

Martin-Baker launched the first aviation ejection seats in 1947, and it has produced over 75,000 units since that seminal moment. Since 1958, the company has maintained an exclusive "tie club" for those who bear the dubious distinction of having availed themselves of the MB hardware. With only 5,800 eligible members, the tie club remains an exclusive clique. While the MB I remains the privilege of those who've ridden the rocket seat, the identical MB II can be enjoyed by all collectors with a taste for independent horology and admiration for aviation.

Bremont builds the U-2/DLC with subtle nods to its inspiration. The dominant aesthetic of the dial is that of the mid-century MK IX pilot's watches that were built for the British and Australian air arms. High-contrast Arabic numerals, a black dial, and instrument-like legibility define the arm's length impression. The DLC finish of the watch pays tribute to the “Black Ops” undertaken by American U-2 pilots for over half a century.

Functional features of the Bremont U-2/DLC include a robust automatic movement with day/date complication, COSC-certified Swiss Chronometer precision, and stop seconds for precise synchronization to a reference time. Bremont's MB II case architecture incorporates additional safeguards against extreme handling; the movement is mounted on shock-absorbing isolation braces.

The Bremont U-2/DLC is the rare pilot's watch that can pull double-duty as a dive instrument; its 100m (330ft) water resistance and secure internal rotating bezel permit sub-surface use in most amateur diving activities.

Bremont prides itself on its commitment to British manufacturing, so this U-2/DLC is assembled, finished, and timed in London after the movement is constructed and COSC certified in Switzerland.

With a dial signed "London," this Anglo-Swiss hybrid is retracing the footsteps of no less an industry titan than Rolex's Hans Wilsdorf. Unlike Wilsdorf, the English brothers (Giles and Nick) are attempting to move as much production as possible back to London from Switzerland. Bremont is a watchmaker with a patriotic mission; revive London's grand watchmaking heritage.

Ejection seats are like bulletproof vests: a necessary evil. By most accounts, using them when necessary is better than the alternative - and only the alternative. Skip the Martin-Baker Tie Club, avoid SAM sites and U-2 cockpits, and cut to the good part with the Bremont U-2/DLC from thewatchbox.com.

See this Bremont U-2/DLC and accessories in high-resolution images on www.thewatchbox.com. Video and content by Tim Mosso.