Bremont has revealed its new Limited Edition Victory watch at BaselWorld 2012, a tribute to Lord Nelson’s HMS Victory.
HMS Victory is the only remaining 18th Century ship anywhere in the world and remains the oldest serving warship still to be in commission – incredibly she still retains her own Captain, offices and crew and flies the flag of the Second Sea Lord, Commander in Chief Naval Home Command. Laid down in 1759 and launched in 1765; she is most famous as Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
The luxury brand has worked with the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth to create a unique mechanical retrograde watch featuring original oak timber and copper from HMS Victory. Parts of the proceeds of each watch will be donated to help the refurbishment and preservation of the ship.
The original copper from the nails that held the HMS Victory together is used in the barrel of the watch, push buttons and crown. The rear of the watch is amazing, featuring oak from the hull of the ship in the outer rim, engraved with some of Nelson’s last words: “Thank God I have done my duty”. The sapphire crystal glass back is engraved, and the gold rotor is in the shape of Nelson’s personal seal.
“We take any relationship such as this very seriously and we have to be very confident that both HMS Victory and Nelson will be honoured correctly,” said Giles Gould of the National Museum of the Royal Navy. “We have never released original wood/copper that is as old as this and we think what Bremont is building is an amazing tribute. Victory means a lot to us and the Navy and the fact some of the proceeds of the watches sales are going towards the preservation of the Ship all help preserve her for future generations.”
Giles English, co-founder of Bremont, said: “Over the last few years both Nick and myself have been working with the Royal Navy Fleet air arm Heritage and that’s when we heard about the restoration of HMS Victory. With no hesitation we approached the Navy and discussed the possibility of creating a watch using original parts from the ship. Not only did we want to make the watch unique but we also want it to be a horological masterpiece.”
The Bremont Victory is expected to launch in July for £11,995 (US$18,800) and is limited to 250 pieces.
