
We love pilot watches just as much as the next guy. They can track two or more timezones, often come paired with chronograph functions, and always seem to look more fantastic than any other sports models out there, guided in some part by the spirit of the era that birthed these kinds of timepieces in the first place. However, how sturdy are these watches, really? Sure, they can resist drops, magnetic fields, and even 100-plus meters under the ocean’s surface. But while in the thick of the action, could a military fighter pilot truly rely on his watch to survive the most extreme conditions? Well, Bremont aims to challenge any doubters with its latest MB Viper model.

Although it’s technically considered a luxury watch brand, Bremont has churned out some of the best-performing sports watches on the planet, such as the Supermarine diver and a whole range of super-tough pilot’s watches. Last year, the UK-based firm tapped its frequent collaborator, aviation company Martin-Baker, on a case that would be able to hold its in-house ENG300 movement series to ensure that it could survive the extreme conditions of being ejected from an aircraft cockpit. The watch underwent a series of rigorous tests at Martin-Baker’s labs and met the criteria of the HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Testing), which includes high impacts and extreme temperatures. Now, Bremont has brought the concept watch to life for a limited run of just 300 pieces.

No doubt inspired by the color of many military parachute canvases, the watch sports an attractive orange anodized aluminum inner case and bezel that’s been screwed into a 43.5mm grade 5 titanium case that’s DLC-finished in a matte black — all surrounding the white dial with striped hour and minute hands. It goes without saying this watch is both lightweight (just over 2oz) and durable. Even the lugs themselves are made of forged carbon. While featuring the brand’s famous Trip-Tick structure and sporty design language, the unique aesthetic is a slight, if not welcomed, departure from many of Bremont’s traditional-looking timepieces.

Again, only 300 examples of the MB Viper are being produced, so head over to Bremont’s website to get one for yourself, priced at £5,495 (~$6,840).