Elliott Brown is a UK-based watch brand known for producing ultra-rugged, good-looking watches that recently added to the series the Bloxworth Heritage Diver (for men) and Bloxworth Hari. (For women). I lent one of these new watches a few months ago, but basically I haven’t removed it since then. I’ve seen brands appear in our best outdoor watch guides, but when it comes to my personal watches, I’ve always traded smartwatches for impractical fashion watches. until now.
Like the rest of Elliott Brown’s range, the new Bloxworths don’t tell you where your GPS is or how many steps you’ve taken that day, but you won’t run out of battery or be upset when hit by a rock. .. Before taking the extreme close-ups of this article, I decided to boldly wear mine coast tearing and rock climbing, so I can prove this, but it still looks good (and works).
If you want to prove tougher, the brand itself does the rigorous testing you’d expect from the best divers’ watches on the market, such as crushing samples with a 3kg stainless steel pendulum mallet or applying 200m of water pressure. Apply to the watch. test. As a watch that can be carried anywhere and do anything without worrying about charging, technical problems or expensive damage, I’m completely sold out.
(Image credit: Spring PR / Land & Wave)
If you come across a swaying 3kg mallet, you can rest assured that not only will you know what time it is, but the clock will also look good. In particular, I’m crazy about the cool design details you can explain to people, whether they want to hear about them or not. As I learned when I talked to my longtime friend Alex Brown and Ian Elliott, who founded the brand, there are a lot of these watches … and we’re partially grateful for Covid. I have.
“We designed both of these watches, signed off, and then hit the blockade,” explains Ian. The launch plan went out of the window and the clock went into the drawer. Then they came out again and started tinkering. “It was one of the situations I didn’t even think about for months because I couldn’t make anything at the time. Then I redesigned it … it’s a three-month test, not an overnight test. And we started choosing just a few details. ”
Take a look at the prosperity of the hidden features and design that ended up in the new and improved Blocksworth Heritage Diver after the blockade.
1. The strap is a slowback from the 1960s
Bloxworth Heritage Diver (nicknamed 3HD) draws its style clues from vintage 50’s and 60’s divers’ watches. At that time, brightly colored rubber straps that were textured like fabric and mock-stitched were all the rage. “Our texture pattern is made by repeating the central spine element of the shield logo, then alternating at 90 degrees, like a checker plate,” Ian explains. “This is one of the subtle details we want to know when designing a collection, because it gives the collection a visual nod to the historic diver’s watch. [but in a way] It is unique to EB. “
Rubber straps feature 50’s / 60’s style mock fabric details
(Image credit: Future)
There is more to the strap. The team added a diamond-shaped perforation with another nod to the styling of the 1960s, adding a way to increase breathability. The strap tapers from 22 mm on the side of the dial to 20 mm on the end of the clasp. “I changed this many times until I was happy with the thickness, flexibility, and comfort. I sometimes do quite a lot of prototyping before I get what I’m happy with.”
2. There is a clever clasp for wetsuit wearers
In the pre-blockade version, the bracelet edition buckle had two expansion options, the larger option being designed to fit the wetsuit. “I think the buckle has a 3mm extension and I think it has a 5mm extension. I didn’t have to change it at all until the ratchet idea came up,” Ian laughs. The new version can be expanded to accurate sizing. “So it’s just a one second job of throwing it over a wetsuit, stretching it all the way, and then literally clicking it back where you need it. And I have to say No, it’s one of the best I’ve designed it as functional. I’m always on the water so I always wear a wetsuit. It’s really really good. “
The bracelet version has a ratchet clasp that fits perfectly over the wetsuit
(Image credit: Spring PR / Land & Wave)
3. Reverse strap celebrates EB’s local area
“The breather line behind the rubber straps could be just a line, right? But we’re like,” No, let’s make it more interesting, “Ian says. The Heritage Rubber Strap has a rope inspired by the location of Elliott Brown’s Dorset. “During the blockade, I was sketching an intertwined rope, because our boatyard is full of boats and ropes, so I nod a little to the boatyard headquarters.”
The women’s version of Hali, which means sea in Greek, remixes things with a breather line based on the OS contours of Tyneham Cap, a local peak overlooking Kimmeridge Bay where the EB team prefers surfing and SUP. .. “This is one of those great details, not just putting the old patterns down,” says Ian.
(Image credit: Future)
4. Bezel insert is made of ceramic
Most other Elliott Brown watches have hardened steel or aluminum inserts on the bezel, while the Blocksworth 3 HD uses black ceramic. “I wanted something that was completely scratch resistant and shiny. Using steel tends to be quite matte, and if you want to stamp the steel and indent areas that can be filled. [with luminous paint]… Small radii and corners are rounded by the stamping tool. It’s not like pushing your feet into the snow. Ceramic, on the other hand, gives you this wonderfully sharp detail. ”
It also has the advantage of being extremely scratch resistant. “You really will go some way to hurt it,” Ian smiles.
Ceramic settings create sharp edges in the indentations
(Image credit: Elliott Brown)
5. Sophisticated details make the design pop
After determining that the matte surface was a bit “blocky”, one of the post-blocking additions was to add a more sophisticated edge to the women’s Hari watch. “When I picked it up effectively the third time, I started doing a few things, such as where the mat ends and the end of the coin begins. I put in this little chamfer and polished it. It’s a little pop.” Ian. Says. “And since the shoulder originally had two sides, there was one side on the side and the top, and I thought it would be cool just to chamfer that part. [between the two surfaces]And polish However Middle bit? And at the edge of the crown, I also polished it. “
The tension is a mixture of matte and sophisticated edges.
(Image credit: Future)
6. Bracelet version is solid steel
Most stainless steel bracelets are hollow. Elliott Brown’s watch is solid. “We machine things from hard chunks of stainless steel,” says Ian. “The buckle mechanism is the same. Many buckle mechanisms are folded, very thin, pressed metal, but we use hard lumps of steel because it lasts and lasts longer. There is no hint that it will break or break. Do whatever it takes to your disadvantage. “
All watch steel is marine grade 316 stainless steel. In other words, it will not rust even in salt water. “Most decent watches are made of 316 stainless steel. It’s just a malleable material, beautifully aging, a little patina over time, and occupies most of our DNA. “Ian says.
The Bloxworth Heritage Diver will be available in late 2021 and will start at £ 550. Bloxworth Hali will be available in June 2022 and will start at £ 495.Both can be purchased from elliotbrownwatches.com (Opens in a new tab)..