Hands-On with the Bremont Terra Nova 40.5 Turning Bezel Power Reserve
Bremont has been making quite some waves in recent months. Not even a year on board, an industry veteran and the brand's new CEO Davide Cerrato is setting a novel and steady course. This all came together at this year's edition of Watches & Wonders, in which Bremont participated for the first time. The size and adventurous-chic atmosphere of the booth indicated that they are there to stay, but also surprised us with a new look and logo for the brand. If that is not enough, there was also a brand new collection, the Terra Nova, waiting for us to get to know. While events like Watches & Wonders are indispensable for getting an overview of the current state of the individual brands, as well as the market as a whole, you need more time with a watch than is possible at the fair to get a real understanding of it.
While new models are always interesting to review, the Terra Nova is even an entirely new collection. It consists, for now, of a time only with or without a date, a chronograph, a 30-piece limited edition tourbillon and this intriguing version that combines a small seconds with a power reserve indicator and a date window. It is a rather bold timepiece that won't go unnoticed on the wrist. As the name already indicates, is the diameter of this Terra Nova 40.5mm. As it has a cushion shape, this means that you have quite a bit of watch on your wrist. That is actually also a necessity as there is a lot to see. Not only is there the rotating compass bezel, but the dial has quite a few elements that demand their space. There are the bold Arabic numerals made from solid blocks of vintage-styled Super-LumiNova, a date window, the power reserve indicator, and a substantially sized sub-dial for the seconds. To fit the theme, the sword hands are also a tad oversized. Combined with the railroad track for the minutes, along with the vintage-styled Super-LumiNova® dots and arrows that mark the 5-minute spaces, they offer excellent legibility, day and night.
There is quite a bit to see on the dial, to the extent that some might consider it crowded. The upside is that all the elements fit the same theme and have enough character not to be outshined by any of the others. Bremont says that the Terra Nova collection is inspired by military pocket watches of the early 20th century, and they most certainly. They did do a nice job of taking key elements of those days into a modern-day creation. The Terra Nova is not an homage but more a modern interpretation of its predecessors.
The cushion-shaped case plays a key role in this, but also greatly contributes to the wearability of what is still a substantial watch. The shape allowed Bremont to opt for relatively small lugs, making the watch very comfortable on my modest-sized wrist. Also, the height of the watch is kept in check, keeping it just below 12mm. The sturdy strap, fitted with a robust pin buckle, not only fits the theme but also gives the watch stability on the wrist. Bremont is not making the Terra Nova from the commonly used 316L stainless steel but opts for the more expensive, yet more corrosion-resistant, 904L stainless steel, a material also used by Rolex. While I have never been in a situation to experience the difference, it is good to see that Bremont goes the extra mile. It might also be the 904L stainless steel that helps in the superb finish that the Terra Nova has. Here, the brand is offering a bit of a contradiction, as this is a rugged field watch, which, when you use it for what it is made for, will show signs of wear, and with such a nice finish, that first scratch is going to hurt.
While I tested this Terra Nova, two other things stood out to me. The first is the shape of the screw-down caseback, which follows the case inwards. Not only is this visually quite attractive, but it also makes the watch sit more flush on the wrist and helps in obtaining a 10ATM/100 meters water resistance. The caseback decorations are also very fitting to the theme, and while they offer a lot of depth, they aren't sharp so the wearing comfort is maintained. Another thing that I really appreciated is the crown with its intricate engraving of the Bremont logo. It is large but not overly so, allowing for a good grip, but not digging in your skin with every movement of your wrist. Operating it is so nice that there where times that I wanted this Terra Nova to be manual wound instead of the automatic that it is.
As it happens is the movement of the Terra Nova, caliber BE-79AL, based on the Sellita SW279, of which they also make a manual wound version. While I might have preferred that one, there are no complains with the automatic version. It is a reliable workhorse movement that suits the adventurous nature of the Terra Nova. The only downside is the relatively modest power reserve of just 41 hours. However, this can be closely monitored thanks to the power reserve indicator and also offers an excuse to wind the watch on occasion.
Extra credit goes to the Terra Nova's nice packaging, which offers room for two watches and a generous number of card slots. It is yet another detail in which the brand highlights that its on the way up, and it is very nice to see that this is not only marketing talk, but also clearly visible in the sophistication of its latest product. While this Terra Nova came on a strap, I also advise you to check out the bracelet when you are interested in this Bremont. While it adds a more modern look to the watch, it is very well made and puts the wearing comfort perhaps even a tier higher than the strap, which I would also get as it allows you to change the look of the timepiece nearly instantly. The price of the Terra Nova 40.5 Turning Bezel Power Reserve is $3,950.
For more info, visit Bremont, here.
