Giles English is a prominent British entrepreneur and co-founder of the Bremont Watch Company, a luxury aviation-themed watchmaker based in Henley-on-Thames, England. His professional life and the founding of his brand are deeply rooted in a lifelong passion for mechanical engineering and aviation, largely influenced by his upbringing.

Born into a family with a strong affinity for mechanics, English spent much of his childhood in the workshop of his father, Dr. Euan English. His father was an ex-RAF pilot, an aeronautical engineer, and a gifted craftsman who restored vintage aircraft, cars, and clocks. This early environment provided Giles with a foundational understanding of complex machinery and a deep appreciation for British engineering history. He later pursued formal education in the field, studying engineering at university.

Before entering the horological industry, English began his career in the financial sector in the City of London. However, a series of life-altering events redirected his professional path. In March 1995, his father was killed and his brother, Nick English, was seriously injured in a vintage aircraft accident during a training flight. This tragedy prompted the brothers to reassess their careers and pursue their shared mechanical passions. They initially moved into the aviation business by purchasing North Weald Flying Services and later successfully exited an internet venture.

In 2002, Giles and Nick English co-founded the Bremont Watch Company. The brand’s name was inspired by a 1990s emergency landing the brothers made in a biplane in Northern France. They were assisted by a farmer and former engineer named Antoine Bremont, whose passion for clocks and planes mirrored their own. Giles’s vision for the company was to revive British watchmaking by creating robust, high-quality mechanical timepieces that could compete with established Swiss brands while maintaining a distinct British identity.

Under English’s co-leadership, Bremont became known for its “Tested Beyond Endurance” philosophy. He played a key role in establishing significant partnerships, notably with Martin-Baker, the manufacturer of fighter jet ejection seats, to develop watches capable of withstanding extreme g-forces. His efforts also expanded the brand’s reach into the military sector, providing bespoke timepieces for over 400 different units globally. In 2021, he saw the opening of “The Wing,” a 35,000-square-foot manufacturing and technology center designed to bring more of the watchmaking process back to the United Kingdom.

In 2023, following a significant investment by Bill Ackman and Hellcat Acquisitions, the brand underwent a leadership transition. As of April 2025, Giles English transitioned from his role on the board of directors to serve as a brand ambassador, continuing to represent the company he helped build into one of the most recognizable names in modern British horology.