A first for EB, the Bloxworth Heritage Diver Founder’s Edition, limited to just 250. The design phase of our watches is and will continue to be a highly collaborative effort where every model develops its own unique character and also how the founders work best, bouncing creative ideas off each other.
Why have they decided to call it a founders edition?
In essence it sums up a very personal obsession with engineered, functional details and the first lockdown provided some rare head space without the usual distractions. “It was a luxury having the time to express our ideas in such detail and the emotional tears we shared when handling the first prototypes say all anyone needs to know about how we feel about this watch. That hasn’t happened before.”
The soft grey dial on this Founders Edition is the culmination of Alex's love of working with Cool Grey 6c and it's fair to say he is more than content that it works so perfectly in this model. “From a design perspective it’s easier to design on a neutral colour render that isn’t black or white. I knew that the grey had to stay on this occasion from the first drawing I created” It just so happens to work perfectly with all the other aspects of the watch. The orange tip on the seconds hand is the perfect fit and a colour that echoes through the design language at EB, from bold orange rubber straps to the contour lines on the back of our logo tees.
For Ian, it’s all about the Bronze IP case and brushed hands, particularly the highly polished chamfer on the shoulders of the case and outer rim of the bezel. In fact, they look so ‘right’ that this is one design accent that has carried through the 3 Hand Diver collection. “I just love the fact that the bronze has an instant warmth and character from day one, It has its own patina and the polished accents enhance the depth of character in the brushed bronze surface. Unlike solid bronze, it won’t turn your wrist green either and it’s so much more durable.” Commented Ian adding “so many people ask me about the prototype I’m wearing.”
Of course, there couldn’t be a watch in EB’s collection without any links to its Dorset heritage, so the lume colour was specially mixed to a gorgeous warm limestone reminiscent of Dorset’s local Purbeck Stone.
The sandwich, two layer dial has always been an ambition and this became the perfect model on which to loose many hours designing many iterations before the final design emerged. As an exercise in exquisite detailing it carries a textured, basket weave pattern that started life as the vertical centre bar of the EB shield logo, repeated and transformed into a grid. “The inspiration for the textured surface came from ‘tropic’ rubber dive straps from the 50’s and 60’s. Creating a pattern with this level of precision stamped into in the brass dial has been a big ask, but the result speaks for itself and lifts the watch to another level.” The texture is a signature marque of this watch and also features around the deeply stamped EB shield on the compressor case back.
The 41mm bezel profile is new for Elliot Brown with a narrow outer coin edged grip, framed with a polished chamfer that marries perfectly with the precise ceramic bezel insert. The box sapphire crystal sits just proud of the bezel with the overall impression being one of a versatile classic that manages the difficult trick of also being bang up to date.
“On the practical side, with a very wearable 40mm case (41mm bezel) with strap changes that are a cinch thanks to the solid screw in bars, this is a great every-day-wearable watch that looks great with many so strap choices including our patented webbing straps.”
The tobacco brown nubuck strap with a pale contrast stitch pairs beautifully with the warmth of brushed bronze, entirely in keeping with the ethos and history of this watch. It’s the sort of strap that will develop a lovely character over time.
Also available on a matching IP bronze bracelet with solid links and a ratcheting divers buckle.
