Your brand has strong momentum in a category of large, well-established players. What is your unique proposition?
Giles English (above, left): Well, naturally, being British is pretty unique in this market, but I think the main thing is that we are producing so much under one roof, something that is really not even done in Switzerland. We knew doing this was never going to be easy, but knew we would be building the foundations to be one of the greats one day
What have you learned from the largest companies in your space? What do you differently?
Interestingly, we really have not because we are sealed off in the UK and our competitors are so big that there is very little in the way of similarities. What we do have is that we don’t have are any shackles holding us back and a real passion for what we do.
How does your company benefit the wider community? How sustainable is your offering?
Bremont is deeply committed to the wider community. Since inception, and indeed more so having moved to our new HQ at The Wing, Bremont provides ample job opportunities for the local and wider community. We’re enormously proud to be training up a new generation of engineers and watchmakers, re-igniting a once booming British industry. Of course, we provide an additional attraction to the Henley-on-Thames area supporting tourism through the tours that we offer and watchmaking masterclasses which are available to the public.
We are incredibly passionate about our charity work and estimate that Bremont has donated over £1m to charity over the years. Equally The Wing has been built with sustainability in mind. We are working with external parties to help us reach net zero. We acknowledge that this will take time but are determined to do so.
Crucially, mechanical watches are hugely sustainable; a well-made mechanical watch will last hundreds of years and can be passed from generation to generation.
Luxury brands tends to think in generations not years. What is your long term vision and what will be your legacy?
This is the only way to think. It takes so very long to do what we are doing, and the investment is so great, that you really need a very long term approach. Of course, that's also the really exciting part of it. I want people talking about and buying Bremont in 200 years' time.
