Nick English is a British entrepreneur and co-founder of Bremont Watch Company, a luxury horological brand known for its aviation-inspired chronometers. His path into the watch industry was profoundly shaped by a family background rooted in engineering, aviation, and a life-altering tragedy.
Born into a family with a deep passion for mechanics, English was raised by his father, Dr. Euan English, an RAF pilot and aeronautical engineer. Alongside his brother Giles, he spent much of his childhood in his father’s workshop, learning to restore historic aircraft, cars, and mechanical clocks. This early immersion provided him with a foundational understanding of precision engineering and a deep respect for British horological history.
On March 4, 1995, English was involved in a serious aviation accident while practicing for an air display with his father in a WWII-era Harvard aircraft. The crash resulted in the death of Euan English and left Nick with over 30 broken bones. This event served as a pivotal turning point; after a recovery period, English and his brother decided to leave their careers in the financial sector to pursue their shared passion for mechanical engineering and watchmaking.
In 2002, Nick and Giles founded Bremont in Henley-on-Thames. The company’s name was inspired by a 1990s emergency landing in France, where the brothers were assisted by a farmer and former engineer named Antoine Bremont. Under English’s co-leadership, Bremont has focused on producing robust, high-quality mechanical watches that undergo rigorous testing, including collaborations with the ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker.
English has been a vocal advocate for the revitalization of British watchmaking. He has overseen the brand’s growth into an international entity, establishing a significant manufacturing and technology center in the UK. Today, he remains an active figure in the aviation and horological communities, frequently participating in historic aircraft displays and promoting British manufacturing on the global stage.