In June 2013, UK watchmaker Bremont introduced the Codebreaker – a flyback chronograph with GMT function made in collaboration with the historic Bletchley Park Trust. We showed you the watch moments after launch, highlighting Bletchley Park’s important role as the center of code breaking operations for the British Army during WWII. The Codebreaker incorporates a number of real historical artifacts into the design, including parts of the punchcards used for code breaking. Though the watch was made in very limited numbers, online retailer MrPorter.com has secured a number of Codebreakers to offer online starting today.
Only 240 steel and 50 18k rose gold Codebreakers will be produced. To mark each piece, Bremont secured five extremely rare punch cards from the Bletchley Park code breaking machine. Segments of the punchcards are used on the side of the Codebreaker’s case, denoting each piece’s unique serial number. Additionally, the crown is inlaid with wood from the floorboards of "Hut 6," the epicenter of Bletchley Park, where data was processed daily to break encrypted messages from the German armed forces.
The Codebreaker is powered by Bremont’s BE-83AR, a self-winding chronograph with 46-hour power reserve based on the Valjoux 7750. The movement was heavily modified to suit Bremont’s specifications; most notably, a flyback mechanism was added along with a GMT hand. On the etched metal dial you’ll notice a seconds sub-register positioned between 7 and 8 o’clock along with a 30-minute sub-register between 4 and 5 o’clock, both featuring a "0" and "1" motif. A large date aperture rounds everything out at 6 o’clock.
As Bremont continues to expand its presence worldwide, the company has also announced a partnership with aviation giant Boeing. Bremont will manufacture a new range of mechanical wristwatches with Boeing’s advanced materials to commemorate the company’s 100th anniversary. Expect to see a range of watches using materials from Boeing’s UK-based Advanced Manufacturing Research Center as well as a more limited range using actual airplane parts.
The Bremont Codebreaker is now available in stainless steel directly from MrPorter.com at a price of $22,000. For more information, visit Bremont online.