Bremont Supermarine

From the S500 to the 300 m generation

The S500 was Bremont's first dive watch, introduced in 2009 with a 43 mm case and 500 m water resistance. Bremont's own retrospective dates it to that year. That matters when a listing gives a different year for the first Supermarine, because the brand's history is the reference to check.

The S2000 followed in January 2013 as a larger 45 mm professional diver rated to 2,000 m. In 2017 Bremont introduced smaller 40 mm divers rated to 300 m, sold as the Type 300 and Type 301 and as the S300 and S301. Both sets of names appear in listings, so match the reference rather than the name.

Each generation used different calibers. The original S500 used the BE-36AE, a day/date automatic chronometer with roughly 38 hours of power reserve, according to the brand's 2014 to 2015 catalogue. The S300 and Type 300 used the BE-92AE, which Bremont's archived product pages list with a similar reserve. The ENG300 movement family came later, in 2021, and is a separate subject.

Servicing a Supermarine

Bremont's service centre is at The Wing in Henley-on-Thames, where the brand's manufacturing, testing and assembly are also based. The brand's service page calls for a service every three to five years, with a two-year warranty on complete service. It asks for an estimate to be approved before work begins and charges for declined estimates, so read the terms before you send the watch.

On a dive watch the seals are the main job. The water-resistance rating depends on the gaskets at the crown and caseback, so those should be replaced and the case pressure tested after the work, with the replacements noted on the estimate. A service that leaves the gaskets alone leaves the rating unproven.

An independent can service the original calibers if they have the right experience, but parts are the limit. Ask how the shop would source the caliber's parts, and whether any work could affect the warranty. Bremont's warranty is generally three years from purchase, with longer arrangements for some eligible registered and ENG300 models, so check which terms apply to your watch. If the watch was bought second-hand, the warranty may have already ended, so ask the seller for the purchase date.

Buying a pre-owned Supermarine

Check the generation first. A 500 m S500, a 2,000 m S2000 and a 300 m Type 300 are different watches with different case sizes, calibers and seals. A listing that says only 'Bremont Supermarine' does not tell you enough. Match the case diameter and the reference to the generation before you agree on a price. A reference that does not match the case size is a clear reason to ask more questions.

Look at the bezel, the crown and the bracelet. Scratches on a dive bezel are normal wear, but the bezel's click and alignment matter. Bracelets are often replaced, so ask whether the bracelet is original and whether any replacement has been disclosed. A bezel insert that has been replaced should be recorded on the paperwork as well.

Serial numbers can be traced to Bremont's records, according to the brand's technical literature, so ask the seller for the serial. Pair that with a pressure test if you plan to use the watch in the sea, since a test is the most direct way to confirm the seals have held.

Care, originality and everyday use

A dive watch goes in the sea and takes knocks, so rinse it in fresh water after salt water and make sure a screw-down crown is fully tightened before it goes in. Check the seals after any impact, and have the watch pressure tested after the case has been opened.

Straps and bracelets are the parts owners replace most. A replacement should match the case size and lug width. Rubber straps stiffen and crack after salt and sun, so keep a spare for sea use.

Originality is about the dial, the bezel insert and the hands. A replaced insert or a refinished case changes the watch and what it should cost to service, so ask for each change in writing and keep the box and papers with the watch.

Using a dive watch every day

A Supermarine is built for hard use, but the bracelet and the case edges still take the most wear. Check the clasp after each trip, and ask the shop for a link and clasp check at service. A clasp that does not hold firmly is worth fixing before the watch goes in the water again.

Keep a record of each pressure test with the date and the depth rating it was tested to. A certificate from the shop that did the work helps the next owner, and it gives you a clear reference point if the seals are ever questioned.

Choose a shop that will test the watch before and after the work, and that will write both results on the paperwork. Ask whether the shop uses its own pressure test equipment or sends the watch elsewhere. A clear answer shows that the rating is being checked rather than assumed, and that matters on a dive watch.

What to check on a Bremont Supermarine

• Experience with Bremont's original calibers and their parts
• A pressure test before and after the work, with the result written down
• Confirmation of which Supermarine generation the watch belongs to
• A plan for genuine gaskets and bracelet parts, or a clear route to the brand

Common questions