Bremont Pays Tribute to a Classic with the Jaguar C-Type

Bremont has introduced their latest novelty, a new chronograph in their motorsport collection inspired by one of the most iconic of all British sports cars. The Jaguar C-type was introduced in 1951 and was an almost immediate sensation, largely on the strength of its impossibly curvy body. It looked like nothing else, and remains a great example of how functional design (the C-type’s curvy lines were designed to be aerodynamic in a competitive racing application) can eventually equate to something undeniably beautiful and aesthetically pleasing (I mean, look at it). The new watch from Bremont, dubbed simply the Bremont Jaguar C-type, takes a familiar Bremont design and tweaks it just a bit to pay tribute to a classic British car. 

What we have here is a chronograph with a simple and classic two register layout with a date at 6:00 and a fixed tachymeter bezel in a steel Trip-Tick case measuring 43mm in diameter. I think one could easily make an argument that Bremont’s standard case shape is a bit severe, and lacks the fluid lines of a classic Jaguar, so they’ve paid homage to the C-type in other ways without drastically altering the Bremont footprint. The Jaguar logo appears in relief just above the date window, and the bezel is made from aluminum as opposed to a more modern material like ceramic in a nod to the bodywork of the original C-types from the 1950s. As is typical for car inspired watches, particularly chronographs, the subdials and numerals have all been fashioned to resemble the gaugues you might see when behind the wheel. It’s a bit on the nose, but there’s a reason those designs worked so well in classic cars – everything is easy to read, pleasant to look at, and, at this stage, has a certain familiarity to it that you just kind of expect on a watch like this. 

The real tribute to the C-type though is found when you flip the watch over. Rather than putting the movement on display, Bremont has opted for a closed caseback topped by a decorative coin with an image of Jaguar’s “Growler” badge. The engraving appears to be of a fairly high quality, and Jaguar fans will surely appreciate the detail and attention given to what is an iconic piece of branding. Points to Bremont as well for keeping the Growler relegated to the caseback and not the dial. It works really well as an unseen Easter egg for the owner, but would be way over the top if found in a subdial.

The Bremont Jaguar C-type runs on Calibre 13 1/4″ BE-50AV, which is a modified ETA 7750 with 42 hours of power reserve. The Trip-Tick case is water resistant to 200 meters, and has a lug to lug measurement of 49mm and a depth of 15.8mm. The watch is mounted to a racing style strap in brown. 

Bremont, as a British brand, seems to have a genuine affinity for Jaguar. This is the third Jaguar themed watch they’ve released (previous watches have paid tribute to the E-type and D-type), and while automotive themed watches are sometimes a tough sell unless you’re deeply committed to the specific vehicle being referenced, authenticity goes a long way, and I don’t think anyone could accuse Bremont of not having a genuine respect and admiration for Jaguar. 

The retail price of the Bremont Jaguar C-type is $6,495. More information here.