The Holton Professional
The Holton Professional was developed in collaboration with a specialist branch of the British armed forces. It’s the first new military issue watch to be created by a British watch company in more than ten years. The 101-001 model has a NATO stock number befitting of its military issued status. The Holton came about as a natural consequence of another Elliot Brown model being worn by members of the military community from a charitable project whose recipients realised how durable their watches were and requested a new model of professional calibre with very specific functional requirements.
Hand delivering the first batch of Holtons to the unit concerned was a proud moment that made us stop and take a breath because so few watches have ever attained the status of being developed authentically this way and going on to become issued military equipment. Even fewer are issued to the type of specialist unit using the Holton, so it came as no surprise when this watch quickly became our most requested model.
The design language echoes that of vintage military watches yet with all the hallmark Elliot Brown house design cues, creating a sense of continuity aligned with supreme legibility and function.
The clean lines of the precisely machined case architecture provide a simple utilitarian style that sets off the hobnail knurling of the bezel and its ultra-clear markings work perfectly with bold dial indexes. Functional enhancements include the triple sealed, screw-down crown at 4H, tough 2mm anti-reflective sapphire crystal, high grip hardened steel bezel* and solid screw in strap bars that make strap changes a cinch. This watch is unapologetically fit for purpose and perfect for daily duty no matter how harsh the conditions.
It would be hard to imagine a more demanding audience than the one this watch was designed for.
The Holton takes its name from Holton Heath in Dorset, the location of a wartime cordite factory.
* high grip bezel is not recommended for use with stiff cuffed shirts as prolonged contact may cause fabric to fray
