Bremont has come flying out of the gates in 2024 with a new anticipated watch collection called the Terra Nova. This was a very hyped up release for Bremont, and I’ve never seen them push a marketing campaign like this before for any of their watches. The Terra Nova is offered in a few different configurations, with purists most likely leaning towards the 38mm time only variant, but there’s also the option of a power reserve or date only variant with a 40.5mm size, as well as a larger chronograph version with a 42.5mm size.
Initial Impressions
When I first witnessed the press images of this watch I couldn’t help but feel that it was a mashup of styles from other brands, this did not look like a Bremont to me. Actually it resembles nothing of any of their other offerings. Similarities can only be found when digging into the specs and materials of the watch that are shared with other Bremont collections.
Clearly, the Tera Nova has an unmistakable cushion case, but unfortunately it has not been aesthetically designed uniquely. The case of the watch is nearly identical to the Seiko Prospex SPB411 I recently reviewed, and the bezel wasn’t much different either. Actually the bezel on the power reserve and chronograph variants also reminds me of another watch, the compass enabled Hamilton Khaki Field Expedition.
Beyond the similarities to other watches that I can’t seem to ignore, I do really like the dial layout on the Terra Nova, which is probably the only part of the watch that has some unique design thought put into it. While the chronograph and power reserve variants are quite cool and complex looking, the dials are packed too tight, which has me leaning towards the time only variant as my personal favorite.
Strong Points
It’s not all doom and gloom with the Terra Nova, after all Bremont is known for excellent British watchmaking craftsmanship. The watch may appear to borrow some style cues from other brands and models but there’s no denying the superiority of the manufacturing from Bremont, which is apparent with the excellent polished and brushed case finishing. The dial is also featuring large and fully lumed arabic numerals using Super-LumiNova.
While I have not actually handled this watch yet, I would expect the rotating bezel to be just as stout and robust as their other divers which I have handled in the past, such as their Supermarine S302 that features a diving countdown bezel. The Terra Nova is also curiously missing crown guards, I’m not sure why they decided to omit them especially when they claim that the Terra Nova has an oversized crown that theoretically will be easier to snag on clothing, luggage, and backpacks during outdoor excursions. Perhaps is was to accentuate the “oversized look”, which I can understand, but it undermines the function of the watch.
I am happy to see that Bremont decided on the use of a closed caseback, which should provide a touch more piece of mind when out and about exploring with this watch. The caseback also has a “charted map of the world” engraved on it, so while it’s closed off it still retains something interesting to look at when off wrist.
Final Thoughts
I like the concept behind the new Terra Nova from Bremont. The end result is certainly geared towards outdoor exploration, and it’s offered with a variety of useful functions and a range of sizes. I’m not overly keen on the shared appearance of the watch with other brands, I feel Bremont could have customized the shape of the case further to create their own identity. I’m looking forward to actually handling one of these for review soon, and will be able to report back with a more detailed observation.
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