Through the years I’ve developed a bit of a soft spot for Bremont. Even though many of the designs didn’t speak to me early on, I admired the brand’s tenacity and enthusiasm in their efforts to ignite a new spark across British watchmaking. Recently, I’ve seen their popularity within military circles grow exponentially on social media and I still think their custom runs for service members are some of the coolest around. For the rest of us, the Armed Forces collection is the more accessible option for watches that honor HMAF through an MoD partnership. Now Bremont has expanded the lineup with a new time-and-date model featuring a ‘sandwich’ dial and impressive lume. Here’s the new Bremont Broadsword Recon.
Limited to 200 pieces, the Bremont Broadsword Recon measures 40mm in diameter, 47mm lug to lug, 12.5mm thick, and 20mm between the lugs. This makes for a nice sweet spot if you’re considering an elevated field watch option with added visual flare that’ll work on a ton of straps. What really gets me going is the inclusion of a screw-down crown with serious water resistance, something many brands skip out on when offering “field watches”. Speaking of straps, you get the option of a complimentary Black Temple Island Rubber Strap or a Dark Brown Vintage Leather Strap, in addition to the black and tan NATO-style strap that comes with the watch.
Another standout feature is the case design. Since reviewing the S302 a while back, I’ve been crushing over a handful of Bremont models and the case design is always a huge part of that. The ridged case sides are a signature within the Armed Forces collection and they add a touch of complexity to an otherwise utilitarian design. Finally, Bremont’s choice of “P51” Super-LumiNova seems like a great match for the sandwich dial setup. The numeral cutouts on the dial allow for a high degree of luminescence to shine out from the fully-lumed disc below. Personally, I think it’s the perfect way to take the original Broadsword design and spice it up a little.
Bremont Broadsword Recon Specs
- Case diameter: 40mm
- Case thickness: 12.5mm
- Lug-to-lug: 47mm
- Water resistance: 100m
- Case material: Stainless steel
- Movement: Modified Calibre 11 1/2’’’ BE-95-2AV (38-hour power reserve)
- Crystal: Sapphire
- Bracelet: Nylon NATO-style & complimentary Black Temple Island Rubber or a Dark Brown Vintage Leather
- Price: $3,695
While certainly not the most affordable option out there if you’re looking for this style of watch, the Broadsword Recon is perfect if you have no issue splurging. If it were up to me, I would’ve liked a little more in the way of power reserve and the convenience of quick-change spring bars. That would just push it over the edge for me. Still, I think I’ll spend some time fantasizing about this one, as I’ve been on a bit of a field watch kick lately.
Co-Founder & Senior Editor
Michael Peñate is an American writer, photographer, and podcaster based in Seattle, Washington. His work typically focuses on the passage of time and the tools we use to connect with that very journey. From aviation to music and travel, his interests span a multitude of disciplines that often intersect with the world of watches – and the obsessive culture behind collecting them.