Making watches is an obviously complicated business, with even a simple watch containing 140 parts or more, packed into a space of just an inch wide and just over a tenth of an inch tall. Setting up an operation to handle such tiny components and assemble them into a watch is hard enough, but actually producing those components is a very different matter, particularly if you plan to make them in any numbers. Bremont has pretty much mastered the assembly part of the equation: every watch that exits the brand's Henley-on-Thames facility is tested to at least chronometer standard. But, so far, only a very small number of British watchmakers produce their own parts - including Roger W Smith, which does almost everything by hand, producing just 10 complete watches per year (though of a quality that has collectors from across the world happy to wait years to own one).
Luxury watch brand Bremont wants to bring its entire watchmaking process to the UK . The company already assembles its watches in the UK , but with the addition of a manufacturing manager and backing from Jaguar Land Rover and Martin - Baker , watch founders Nick and Giles English plan to produce components domestically . Currently , only a few UK - based manufacturers produce their own parts , with some of the required skill - sets “ alien to the UK ” , Giles English suppliers . With a factory comprising over 140 parts , a strong understanding of materials is vital . As such , Bremont has sought advice from the Advanced ##maker watch Centre .