There is a specific kind of anxiety that comes with buying “New Old Stock” (NOS). You walk into an Authorized Dealer in 2026, spot a piece from a 2022 production run, and your brain starts a tug-of-war: Is it a rare find, or am I buying a watch that’s been neglected in a safe for four years?

Last week, I was on the Hardy Brothers online site and took that gamble on a Bremont Broadsword Jet. At 23% off it’s usual retail price, it was a steal – but the real story isn’t the price. It’s the preservation of a specific era of British watchmaking.

A Piece of “Her Majesty’s” History

What makes this specific Broadsword Jet special is its caseback. While Bremont’s current marketing reflects the transition to “His Majesty’s Armed Forces,” my 2022-built unit sits firmly in the late Queen’s era. It features the “Her Majesty’s” engraving and the St. Edward’s Crown heraldry – a design that has since been retired from production.

In a hobby obsessed with “transitional” dials and rare casebacks, I hadn’t just bought a field watch; I’d secured a historical document of the Bremont/MoD partnership.

The “Shelf Life” Myth: A Timegrapher Truth

The biggest fear with NOS is the lubricants. Has the oil pooled? Has the amplitude dropped?

I decided to put my newly acquired Bremont to the ultimate test on my Weishi 1900. After a full wind, the numbers that flashed back were staggering for a watch that had been “sitting” since 2022:

• Rate: +1 s/d (Solid COSC territory)
• Amplitude: 309° (Fresh, high-energy oscillation)
• Beat Error: 0.0ms (Mechanical perfection)

Seeing a 309° amplitude at the correct 50° lift angle was the “Aha!” moment. It proved that Bremont’s BE-95-2AV movement (a robust, chronometer-grade modification of the Sellita SW260-1) is built for the long haul. The synthetic oils hadn’t aged a day.

Build Quality and Legibility

On the wrist, the Broadsword Jet is a masterclass in “Stealth Wealth” meets “Field Tool.” The Black DLC hardened steel case is austere and tactical, but the satin-bronze crown and hands provide a warmth that will only get better as the bronze patinas here in the Australian climate.

The legibility is, frankly, unbeatable. Drawing from the “Dirty Dozen” DNA, the contrast between the matte black dial and the stark white Arabic numerals is instant. But it’s the small seconds at 6 o’clock that gives it that vintage soul, reminding you that while this is a modern chronometer, its heart belongs to the 1940s.

Final Thoughts

Acquiring this Jet was a reminder that sometimes the “best” watch isn’t the one on the front page of the current catalogue. It’s the one that tells a story. I walked out with a full 3-year warranty, a historical caseback, and a movement that is beating with factory-fresh vigour.

If you find a Broadsword Jet with “Her Majesty’s” on the back still sitting at your local AD, don’t hesitate. Buy the seller, buy the price, but most importantly, buy the history.

Specifications:

• Model: Broadsword Jet
• Case: Satin and polished two-piece MoD hardened stainless steel case with scratch resistant DLC coating. Bronze screw down crown.
• Case Back: Stainless steel engraved with Her Majesty’s Armed Forces Heraldic Badges. Scratch resistant DLC coating.
• Case Diameter: 40mm
• Movement: Modified calibre 11 1/2’’’ BE-95-2AV automatic chronometer. COSC Certified
• Dial & Hands: ‘Dirty Dozen’ inspired black metal dial with custom mint colour SuperLumiNova. Hands in Bronze satin finish with white SuperLumiNova
• Crystal: Domed anti-reflective, scratch resistant sapphire crystal
• Water Resistance: 10 ATM
• Strap: Black rubber Temple Island OR Black leather / white stitching with Bronze Buckle