Bremont Goes Big

Today Bremont announces a new brand ambassador: a living, breathing action man who has gained his (water) wings in several different oceanic disciplines. Born and raised in Oahu, Hawaii, 36-year-old Mark Healey is both a big-wave surfer – regularly riding waves of 60-feet plus – and a free-diver who often drops to 135 feet below sea level without an oxygen tank. He is also a noted spear fisherman, conservationist, skydiver, photographer, filmmaker and Hollywood stuntman. Oh, and on his days off, Healey has also been known to catch a ride with a great white shark – a feat captured on film more than once. So, what better way could there possibly be to put a new dive watch through its paces and test it “beyond endurance” than on the wrist of aqua-man Healey?

Bremont’s new limited-edition Waterman is based on the company’s high-performance dive watch, the Supermarine S500, and has been produced in a limited edition of 300. Building upon the brand’s reputation for durability and reliability, Healey has been involved in testing the COSC-certified watch in super-human conditions, making sure that technical aspects such as the helium release valve and anti-shock mount live up to their promises, as well as ensuring that the more aesthetic additions such as the scratch-resistant uni-directional sapphire bezel can survive the fierce power of the sea. Of particular relevance in the watch’s trial was how the sapphire caseback would stand up to the extreme real-world conditions that only Healey could expose it to.

A 43mm chunky and robust diving watch, the Waterman combines good looks with a tool-watch pedigree. Executed in ocean-blue and white, with red accents in the “Supermarine” legend and tip of the seconds hand, the timepiece has a date aperture at 3 o’clock. Water-resistant to 500m (despite boasting an exhibition caseback), as with this year’s limited-edition Endurance, which was tested by polar explorer Ben Saunders – and also based on the S500 – the Waterman features a useful GMT hand with white arrow pointer.

As is now de rigueur for Bremont – as well as almost every other major watch brand – there is a message of corporate responsibility within the sale of the new Waterman. From an early age, Healey has surfed every big wave competition in the world, from Indonesia to South Africa, Japan, Australia, the South Pacific and Mexico. With thousands of hours spent in the world’s oceans, he has knowledge that is second to none and has witnessed first-hand the rapidly increasing pollution of the seas, making him a knowledgeable and active voice in education on the natural world.

Today Healey is an active member of the not-for-profit organisation Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii and its Ocean Plastics Programme that has recycled over 200,000lbs of ocean plastic since 2011. Ocean pollution is a plight that is seeing the delicate Eco structure of the seas being destroyed at an alarming rate and Sustainable Coastlines aims to educate the public and provide alternatives to landfill and incineration of plastics. By establishing recycling plants and encouraging companies to create better products, the organisation hopes to inspire new consumer attitudes and behaviour. A percentage of proceeds from the sale of each Bremont Waterman will go towards Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii. From an early age, Healey has surfed every big wave competition in the world, from Indonesia to South Africa, Japan, Australia, the South Pacific and Mexico. With thousands of hours spent in the world’s oceans, he has knowledge that is second to none and has witnessed first-hand the rapidly increasing pollution of the seas, making him a knowledgeable and active voice in education on the natural world.

“The ocean is a great escape but also so grounding and healing,” Healey says. “I could live for a thousand years and it would still never get old. Anytime you step into it, you’re in an environment that’s completely uncontrolled by humans. Everyone needs to connect with that sort of wilderness in some way, especially in a time when there’s so much noise and distraction in our daily lives.”

Bremont’s Co-founder Nick English, says of the company’s new ambassador: “It has been a real joy working with Mark. There is no one who respects the strength, beauty and fragility of the oceans more than him, he really is a waterman in every sense of the word. We are honoured to be working with an adventurer who is so driven by perfection, the ocean environment and who is totally uncompromising when it comes to his equipment.”