Jumping for joy with the new stainless steel Terra Nova Jumping Hour from Bremont
Tom Austin- British brand Bremont has succumbed to fan demands and launched a stainless steel version of its highly successful Terra Nova Jumping Hour design.
- 38mm in diameter, the new steel Terra Nova Jumping Hour is now an accessible and highly wearable everyday watch – more versatile than bronze.
- This latest piece is part of a multi-stage plan for Bremont, bringing intriguing complications to a much wider audience, all while elevating the brand.
Collectors’ desires for all things different, including unconventional complications, are thriving. With Bremont’s previous bronze release of the Terra Nova Jumping Hour selling out incredibly quickly, it was a foregone conclusion that we’d see a stainless steel version at some point. Granted, the previous collection did indeed have a steel variation; however, that was a more conventional design, with a dial and a central hand, and slightly larger at 40.5mm. We wanted a true, everyday montre à guichet, and so, Bremont has delivered.
The Terra Nova’s proportions are inspired by a combination of modern tool watches and early military trench watches. Its chunky, cushion-shaped design is ageing well, and now that we’ve had a bit of time with it, it’s not quite as divisive as it was initially. This new 904L stainless steel version is identical in proportions to the limited-edition bronze model released in April of this year, and we’re thankful to see so. At 38mm in diameter and just 9.1mm thick, it’s well-sized for every wrist, and the curved sides integrate the lugs to create a really cohesive look.
There is, of course, no dial on this watch, as it’s essentially all part of the case. The front plate replaces what would typically be a bezel and crystal, but there are three sapphire windows through which to view the rotating display discs. Interestingly, despite this construction, which makes it appear like an absolute tank, water resistance is pretty limited. This model only manages 30 meters, which feels like a bit of a missed opportunity from Bremont here, because ideally, you want this to be a strong daily wearer, not something you need to be aware of all the time.
Nevertheless, not everyone needs it to be a functional tool watch; the design itself looks fantastic, and the finish across all the components is more than competent, with polished and satin-brushed surfaces throughout. The front case features laser-engraved details that are fairly tidy, and the hours and minute discs are neatly printed in a brown-on-white format, making them clear without looking too standard or basic. The central dial is a running seconds dial, which neatly incorporates the Bremont Compass Wayfinder logo, and it’s great to see that the seconds hand has now been painted in a contrasting black, instead of brown like on the bronze model – a feature I critiqued when it launched.
As before, the watch is equipped with the Calibre BC634 automatic self-winding movement, made in partnership with Sellita. It features the rapid-jump mechanism, which flicks the discs on the dial across almost instantaneously, in under 1/10th of a second, which is seriously impressive.
Functionally, the BC634 remains the same as the previous release, with its decent 56-hour power reserve, 29 jewels and 28,800 vibrations per hour beat rate. It’s a movement that is still exclusive to Bremont for another year or so, so for now, it’s just the Terra Nova that will own this niche corner of the market, but it’s definitely going to give other brands some ideas, that’s for sure.
The watch is available on either a neat tan-brown leather strap with light cream stitching and finished with a pin buckle, or on a stunning Y-link stainless steel bracelet. The bracelet is the coolest option for this model and fits the design perfectly. It features a quick-release system for easy changes, but alas, the butterfly clasp hasn’t yet received a micro-adjustment upgrade. This would be the next logical step for this bracelet to bring it almost to perfection, so it’s a shame we haven’t got it just yet for the Terra Nova. This model does, however, feature 20mm lugs, so it’s at least more customisable than the previous steel model.
Closing thoughts
The Terra Nova Jumping Hour in stainless steel is a sensible addition for Bremont, following the popularity of the earlier bronze model and the very first limited edition. There are a couple of tiny flaws, such as the water resistance and the lack of micro-adjustment, but the legibility improvement for the seconds hand at least shows that Bremont is open to development and taking on feedback. However, overall, the unique Art Deco design is especially cool, and very different to pretty much everything else on the market at this level.
Bremont Terra Nova Jumping Hour Stainless Steel pricing & availability
The Bremont Terra Nova Jumping Hour in stainless steel is available now from Bremont retailers. Price: £4,200/US$4,800/A$7,300 (on strap), £4,450/US$5,100/A$7,750 (on bracelet)
| Brand | Bremont |
| Model | Terra Nova Jumping Hour |
| Case Dimensions | 38mm (D) x 9.1mm (T) |
| Case Material | 904L stainless steel |
| Water Resistance | 30 meters |
| Crystal(s) | Sapphire |
| Dial | 3-aperture ‘montre à guichet’ style |
| Lug Width | 20mm |
| Bracelet | Brown leather with pin buckle Stainless steel Y-link bracelet with butterfly clasp |
| Movement | BC634AH, Sellita-based, Bremont exclusive, automatic |
| Power Reserve | 56 hours |
| Functions | Jumping hours, dragging minutes, central seconds |
| Availability | Available from 14th October |
| Price | £4,200/US$4,800/A$7,300 (on strap) £4,450/US$5,100/A$7,750 (on bracelet) |