Michael Satterfield
There are a lot of watch brands in the world, it seems every week we are reached out to by a new micro brand that has just launched and just as quickly may vanish. But French watch brand Briston has been making some of the most unique watches for just over a decade, and there is a good chance you have never heard of them.
Established in 2012 by industry veteran Brice Jaunet who has worked with major watch brands like Cartier and LVMH Group, the concept behind the Briston brand was inspired by Jaunet’s days as a student at Oxford. He wanted to create a watch that was sporty, stylish, rugged, and still affordable. The two watches we are reviewing reflect those goals perfectly.
The Clubmaster Sport Acetate Safari and the Clubmaster Outdoor Steel both offer chronograph and date complications, unique square cases, and high-quality NATO straps. While I love the Steel Clubmaster, the Acetate case is the one I am drawn to, it is the perfect watch for spring and summer, an instant conversation piece, and the perfect accessory for your summer adventures.
The 42mm “tortoiseshell” acetate casing on the Safari changes in the light and complements the gold accents on the dial. The grooved crown and chronograph pushers offer a nice tactile feel, showcasing the brand’s dedication to the details. A screw-down caseback h bears the brand’s insignia, adding a touch of luxury not often seen on timepieces in the sub $500 price point.
Inside both Briston Clubmasters is the reliable Miyota OS21 quartz movement, which is based on the Citizen 0510 (Miyota is owned by Citizen), it features hours, minutes, central chronograph seconds, a 60-minute counter, 24-hour hand, and date function. The front of the Clubmaster boasts a domed mineral crystal-style glass, a choice that balances scratch resistance with shatter resistance. Many watchmakers tout their sapphire glass, but Briston’s decision to use mineral crystal helps keep costs down while not compromising much in terms of scratch and impact resistance.
Both watches, come with interchangeable NATO straps, which allow the wearer to change the personality of the watch thanks to Briston’s collection of straps. In addition to their traditional NATO straps, they offer leather, flannel, suede, rubber, steel, and mesh, which allows the watch owner nearly endless personalization. Optional straps start at around $35 each but feature far better quality hardware and materials than most aftermarket straps I have found online.
Each Briston watch arrives in a white box, adorned with the Briston logo, inside the timepiece is in a protective flannel pouch, along with a 24-month warranty card and an informative booklet about other watches in the collection. We also received a Briston Travel Clock, which we are going to try to find a way to mount on the dash of one of our classic cars, it just looks that good.
Briston’s blend of elegance, affordability, and design innovation asserts why their watches should undoubtedly find a place on every enthusiast’s list, and our staff around the office has enjoyed wearing both watches over the last few weeks.
Learn more about Briston at Briston-Watches.com
