Whether it's day or night, above ground or underwater, the latest collaboration between Bremont and Bamford Watch Department will catch your eye.
Aurora is the new version of the Bremont S502 Supermarine, a specially designed GMT watch in military style with serious diving capabilities. The generous amount of neon green Super-LumiNova immediately sets this limited edition apart from its 'standard' black counterpart, but on closer inspection, there are changes that go beyond the hyper-legendary design.
What's New
The standout feature of this watch is the generous luminescent glow, which transforms the Aurora from a military watch made for covert night operations into a fun, albeit specifically designed dive watch. Despite its black DLC-coated case, the 'invisibility' when wearing this watch is elusive. The lume ensures constant visibility of the hour markers, the GMT bezel, and all four hands.
Besides the style change, Aurora features a multi-layered dial with indexes that add a three-dimensional element to the dial. It's the first time I've worn a watch with a multi-layered dial, and although it is barely noticeable, it gives the dial fantastic depth and detail.
The GMT bezel is relatively standard, except for the luminescent coating, but the hour markers are something else entirely. They are represented by Roman numerals on the upper half and Arabic numerals on the lower half of the dial. The minute and hour hands have transitioned from the S502 Supermarine model, but the second hand is unique and one of my favorite features of the watch. Finally, Aurora has dispensed with the date window. This was likely done in exchange for adding the multi-layered dial, but it was worth it.
Wearing the Aurora
While I don't have large wrists, I can appreciate the 43mm case size considering the goal of legibility and serious diving capabilities (500m water resistance). On the wrist, the watch already stands out with its bright neon green color, so reducing its size would be illogical. The 16.5mm case thickness seems more significant and ensures that the watch won't hide on the wrist. I always prefer dive watches over dress watches, but the Aurora is thick. It's the same size as the standard S502 Supermarine model, so these aspects aren't unique to the Bremont x Bamford version - both versions are certainly larger than the S302 Supermarine, which could be an excellent more compact alternative.
Initially, I feared the large crown would be uncomfortable, but on the wrist, it is not noticeable. Additionally, the automatic helium escape valve is flush with the case and doesn't add to its size. The black nubuck leather strap with a pin buckle is comfortable and feels high-quality. Naturally, it features neon green stitching - a detail I really like.
In hand and on the wrist, this watch immediately feels like a Bremont watch at its best. The watch is solidly made, but not too heavy. Every touch, from the bezel to the crown, creates a sense of quality. The bezel's height makes it easy to turn, and the large crown allows for use even with gloves.
The Aurora features a modified Calibre 11 1/2"' BE-93-2AV movement based on ETA with a solid 50-hour power reserve and a 'call' function for Greenwich. Without a date, it's easy to set local and Greenwich time, though a 'traveler' function for Greenwich would be preferable.
Price and Final Thoughts
At a price of $5,300 USD, the Bremont x Bamford Aurora has serious competitors, but it's still an attractive offering released in a limited edition. The build quality, GMT functionality, and diving capability justify the price. Given its size and flashy style, this watch may be divisive. However, I believe in the sea (pun somewhat intended) of dive watches, this unique watch should be appreciated. In conclusion, I'd like to draw your attention to the split Roman and Arabic numerals. I think this is a way for Bremont and Bamford to remind us that ultimately, these are fun watches in a serious case - one of the best combinations.