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Showing at WatchTime New York 2019: Bremont H-4 Hercules Limited Edition “Spruce Goose”


UK-based Bremont is a fan favorite for many watch enthusiasts, with most followers of the brand lauding its ties to British aviation and the interesting timepieces that result. This week, the brand released its newest model, which will also be its showcase piece at the upcoming WatchTime New York collectors’ event:  the H-4 Hercules Limited Edition “Spruce Goose.”

Hercules H-4 Spruce Goose plane

This new piece is interestingly inspired by an American prototype plane from the 1940s of the same name: the Hughes H-4 Hercules (above). This plane was designed by Howard Hughes and nicknamed by its critics as the “Spruce Goose” for its use of wood in construction due to a steel shortage. The H-4 was crafted as a World War II transport aircraft, and until this year, with the launch of the Scaled Composites Stratolaunch in April 2019, it had the largest wingspan of any aircraft built at 320 feet 11 inches (or 97.82 m). Only one model of this air boat was ever constructed, with it only taking a single one-minute long flight on November 2, 1947, though the plane has since become a significant piece of military and aviation history, demonstrating the intuitive thinking of designers during wartime struggles. The aircraft is now housed on display at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. For this significance, Bremont — a brand intricately linked to aviation — has thoughtfully worked to construct a commemorative watch.

Bremont H4 Spruce Goose - steel

The 43-mm Bremont H-4 Hercules watch uses the company’s Trip-Tick case construction and shape, with its distinct milled sides and rounded lugs. However, this case is slightly differentiated with an onion-style screw-down crown and stepped-bezel. The watch is available in steel, rose gold, and platinum, each with different dial accents and colors; the steel one uses a black dial with faux patina accents, the rose gold a sunray brown with gold accents, and the platinum a sunray brown with silver accents. Each dial has an outer curved GMT ring, a pilot-inspired minute ring just within this, and applied Arabic numerals for each hour. A 9 o’clock subdial with the watch’s name indicates the running seconds, with a subtle date indicator located at the 6 o’clock position. Determining the time for the watch are two syringe-tipped sword hands for the hour and minute, with a red-arrow tipped hand for the GMT function.

Bremont H-4 Spruce Goose - RG

Inside the H-4 Hercules is the Bremont Caliber BWC/02 automatic movement, capable of a 50-hour power reserve, and visible through a sapphire caseback. Bremont is well known for its uniquely stylized movements, the “Spruce Goose” is no different, featuring a four bladed propeller rotor constructed using birchwood from the original H-4 Hercules fuselage.

Bremont H-4 Spruce Goose - back

The new watch will be produced in limited quantities, with 300 in steel priced at $11,895, 75 in rose gold at $22,495, and 75 in platinum at $30,995. If you’re interested in checking out this very special tribute timepiece for yourself, along with those of 36 other exhibiting watch brands, don’t delay: order your tickets now for WatchTime New York 2019!

Bremont H-4 Spruce Goose - platinum

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  1. Kenton Rojas

    Every man enjoys wearing a quality watch that is different than the others but unfortunately these watches are for the wealthy so like always the common man cannot enjoy a beautiful time piece!

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