A while ago, we took a quick look at the Bremont Broadsword, and concluded in our 60-second review that
“if names could kill, the Bremont Broadsword Jet would take no prisoners.”
So, having spent some time actually wearing it, has our perspective changed at all? As always, perspective depends on where you’re looking from.
Bremont Broadsword Jet - Credit WatchGecko
The Broadsword was intended as Bremont’s latter-day interpretation of the famous Dirty Dozen family of watches, commissioned by the British military in the 1940s to a set of very specific criteria. A total of 12 manufacturers answered the call, hence the popular nickname for these extremely sought-after timepieces.
Needless to say, Bremont wasn’t one of them – as the company was only founded in 2002. Since then. Bremont has carved itself out an enviable niche within the military community, especially the Air Force thanks to its renowned series of Martin Baker ejector seat-inspired watches. Which means that what Bremont has come up with in the form of the Broadsword has a coherent logic, even though it’s not a direct descendant of the Dirty Dozen line in the way that the Vertex M100 is, to name one favourite example.
And neither do Bremont claim that it is; instead their creation is intended as a watch that pays homage to the British Army’s 1940s commission; yet is very different in appearance and ethos.
Bremont Broadsword Jet - Credit WatchGecko
Nowhere is that more evident than with his ‘Jet’ version, in black DLC steel, which obviously intersects with the pilot watch genre as well. The juxtaposition with the bronze hands and crown does take a bit of getting used to, but there’s no arguing with black and gold as an effective colour combo. Personally, I always associate it with John Player Special Formula 1 cars, but that’s probably just the sign of a mis-spent youth – in every possible sense.
In all other aspects, this is an easy watch to live with: it’s comfortable to wear, has a 38-hour power reserve, and manages to attract attention without being too ostentatious. If I were choosing a broadsword for myself – now there’s a dangerous thought – I would definitely go for the standard version in steel that was first released back in 2019, which is much closer to the spirit of the original Dirty Dozen (albeit in a 40mm case size, rather than the 36mm specified back in the day).
Bremont Broadsword Jet - Credit WatchGecko
The black rubber dive strap on the Jet is another contemporary update to the original Dirty Dozen look, which brings this Broadsword right into the spec ops arena as well. How well those conspicuous bronze highlights integrate with that look is more open to debate, but the point here is that Bremont is trying to create a showcase statement – and by definition, that’s always going to be polarising.
Here we have what is undoubtedly a very fine watch that draws several different military genres – from land, sea, and air – into one package. As a result, it does most things well and fits into your life pretty seamlessly. For me, the only subjective issue is that the ‘standard’ watch is more attractive and less expensive than this £3295 online only version, while the Vertex (a genuine Dirty Dozen watch) costs less than both. It depends, as always, on what you’re looking for.
Bremont Broadsword Jet - Credit WatchGecko
