OUR WATCHMAKING PHILOSOPHY

INNOVATION

MATERIAL INNOVATION: CERAMIC

Our quest for innovation had us explore the world of ceramics, the hardest class of materials known. It was soon clear to us that the untouchable qualities of ceramic would be perfect for the all-conditions tool watch we had in mind. On the Vickers scale, which indicates hardness, a high-quality ceramic watch case scores 1,250 points. In comparison, 316L stainless steel scores 152 points.

HOW OUR CERAMIC CASES ARE MADE

The basis of a super-hard ceramic watch is ceramic powder, and everything starts with putting that loose material into a very precisely shaped mold. This negative image of the watch case is 23% bigger than the final product on the wrist. That’s because, after the sintering process, which consists of applying very high levels of pressure and a temperature of 1,450°C that would melt most metals, after a few hours, the size of the insides in the mold shrinks by 23%. Not only do the ceramic watch cases reach their final size after sintering, but they also show their true colors after the process. Ensuring the ceramic case comes out in the desired shade is also a matter of precise calculations because exceeding certain temperatures will lead to color pigment burning and unwanted changes.

PRECISION MACHINING

Finishing a ceramic case is a specialist job. Since ceramic is such a hard material, machining the cases to the exact tolerances after sintering is complex and requires diamond-tipped machines. The almost finished cases are stored in a container filled with ceramic fragments to obtain a shiny finish. A high-frequency vibration will make the fragments move so they remove abrasive fragments and create a polished finish. A sand-blasting process is used to give a watch case a matte finish.

FINE FINISHING

The ceramic bezel’s numerals and markings in relief of the new Supermarine Full Ceramic are created by a specialised laser tool that ensures the height and outline are precise. If every element of the complicated process is done to perfection, the ceramic cases and bezels pass quality control. A thorough inspection by scrutinising experts is the last hurdle a ceramic Bremont tool watch has to endure. Once it passes, nothing stands in the way of a Bremont ceramic tool watch to meet the needs of even our most adventurous and demanding real-world explorers.

Shop The Full Ceramic