For many years, the standard procedures used to test the shock resistance of any watch and its fully enclosed mechanism have varied from brand to brand - from the classic "hammer test" used by most brands to even centrifuge tests, known at IWC. However, no brand, until Bremont appeared in 2002, used the Martin Baker ejection seat as the gold standard for shock resistance testing. Now, approaching its 20th anniversary, the British manufacturer remains the only brand whose MB ("Martin Baker") line of watches is specifically designed and engineered to withstand ejection from a downed aircraft. The new MBII "Savanna" model joins this line, featuring a fully matte titanium case that gives it an understated, ultra-light aesthetic that should appeal to anyone with a serious need for speed.
SPECIFICATIONS
Brand: Bremont
Model: Martin-Baker MBII ‘Savanna’
Dimensions: 43mm
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Case Material: Grade 5 Titanium
Crystal/Lens: Sapphire with reinforced coating
Movement: BE-36AE (base ETA 2836), chronometer-certified, automatic movement with date
Frequency: 4 Hz
Power Reserve: 40 hours
Strap/Bracelet: Rubber
Price & Availability: $5,795 USD
Traditionally, the civilian variant of the MB watch (in this case, the MBII) has always been made from Bremont's hardened stainless steel with the option of coloring the mid-case with anodized aluminum - this is a hallmark of these pilot watches with large knurling, which have been popular on the wrists of active military squadrons and tool watch enthusiasts worldwide for most of the last two decades for obvious reasons. The new MBII model retains these key hallmarks, including the yellow-striped counterbalance of the "ejection handle" on the second hand, while adhering to the updates of the MB collection in 2020, which improved case and dial details (you may notice that the new MBII dial only has a date, unlike the "day/date" complication in previous versions), enhanced the tactile feel of the "Roto Click" internal bezel, and improved the wearability of the 43mm MBII silhouette by thinning the mid-case and shortening the lug-to-lug length.
Alongside these improvements, this new reference adds a rugged khaki finish, which feels like it could be a distant relative of the fully ceramic IWC Top Gun "Mojave" capsule introduced in 2019 and expanded earlier this year. Now, regardless of which flight school you belong to, aviators on the seat and fighter pilots in flight suits are likely to agree that titanium is probably a more realistic case material for a watch to be actually deployed in cockpit use, but feel free to argue this in the comments.
Made exclusively for aesthetics, this special titanium treatment gives the case a very warm gray color, designed to eliminate any potentially reflective surface - something that was once a combat hazard in a traditional pilot's cockpit, although now perhaps much less dangerous with the advent of radar. Besides the rigorous ejection testing, the MBII watch has also been tested under adverse temperatures, altitude changes, and even salt fog, making these watches a suitable option for a carrier crew on active military service. Notably, all these tests are conducted on-site in the UK, in addition to the finishing and case production, which are now carried out at the brand's new manufacture, opened last fall in Henley-on-Thames.
The new MBII Savanna model is still equipped with Bremont's BE-36AE movement - a base ETA 2836, which is secured in Bremont's signature movement holder. The automatic winding bridge has been reinforced to withstand the unique impact occurring during ejection, and the rotor, exclusive to this Savanna model, has been skeletonized and coated with a ruthenium finish. This movement still retains a 40-hour power reserve and, as a pleasant touch unique to this particular release, features a custom date wheel set against a gray background to match the dial.
The debut Bremont MBII Savanna model in titanium is priced at $5,795 USD, which is roughly equivalent to the standard stainless steel version on a bracelet. As always, you can learn more about the MBII watches and Bremont's longstanding collaboration with the renowned ejection seat manufacturer at bremont.com.