Bremont’s Altitude MB Meteor Felix the Cat puts one of military aviation’s most mischievous mascots on the wrist in a 42 mm titanium pilot’s watch that turns the tradition of wartime nose art into a wearable 500-piece limited edition.

Inspired by on the brand’s long-running Martin-Baker collaboration, the Felix edition pays tribute to the iconic cartoon mascot of the US Navy’s VFA-31 “Tomcatters” fighter squadron.

Initial thoughts

Bremont built its brand on military aviation-themed watches, and the Altitude MB Meteor proves it understands the cultural hallmarks of this niche better than most.

The Felix edition taps into the enduring tradition of nose art — the cartoon characters, pin-ups, and mascots that have adorned military aircraft for over a century — drawing on one of the US Navy’s most recognisable icons.

Creating visual coherence, the depiction of Felix is outlined in yellow, echoing the black-and-yellow stripes of the balance end of the seconds hand, which is meant to evoke an ejection seat grab handle.

This has long been a Bremont motif, and is actually one of the brand’s strongest calling cards, dating back to the original 2007 collaboration with British ejection seat maker Martin-Baker (hence the ‘MB’ designation in the model name).

The Altitude MB Meteor is the latest mission in this campaign, and retains the dual-crown architecture and textured case band of the original. That said, several details of the 42 mm case have been changed, starting with the full DLC-coated titanium construction and matching (optional) bracelet.

The use of lightweight titanium transforms the wearing experience; the case weighs just over 53 g, which helps the otherwise large watch (mostly) disappear on the wrist.

Fortunately, unlike certain prior models, availability isn’t limited to specific squadron members and ejectees. Instead, up to 500 members of the general public can become Tomcatters, at least in spirit.

Mischievous mascot

Cartoon characters on watches can come across as gimmicky without a coherent rationale. Fortunately for Bremont, the brand makes a compelling case.

In much the same way that the Omega has leaned into NASA’s apparent obsession with Snoopy for special edition Speedmasters, Bremont has licensed the iconic cartoon character Felix the Cat from Universal Products & Experiences to tap into the long history of military aviation nose art.

Felix the Cat has been associated US Naval aviation since at least World War II, when the cartoon critter became the symbol of the VF-3 (and later the VFA-31) fighter squadron.

Incidentally, one of the aircraft operated by VFA-31 was the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, though the squadron carried the ‘Tomcatters’ nickname long before the F-14’s development.

It would have been easy to just stamp an image of Felix on the dial and be done with it, but Bremont went the extra step to incorporate a clever play on words using jargon that would be familiar to any military pilot.

The phrase ‘watch your six’ is military parlance for watching one’s back, referencing the points on an imaginary clock face with the user at its centre. The phrase takes on new meaning in the Altitude, which sees the titular character quite literally making off with the fully lumed six o’clock hour marker.

The composition is a direct reference to Felix-related aircraft insignia, which typically depict the cat running with a lit bomb.

A popular calibre

Bremont has scaled back its ambitions to become a full-fledged manufacture, but that hasn’t stopped the brand from delivering a suitable calibre. The Altitude is animated by the BB14-AH, which is Bremont’s designation for the La Joux-Perret G100, which was developed as a drop-in replacement for the ETA 2824 and its derivatives.

The G100 has become a darling of independent watchmakers in part because of its 68-hour power reserve, which helps watches with this engine stand out in an increasingly crowded market. Unfortunately the diminutive calibre, designed for use in watches of all sizes, is dwarfed by the 42 mm case.

The industrially finished movement is visible through a transparent sapphire crystal case back, though it’s obscured by an image of its monochromatic mascot.

Key facts and price

Bremont Altitude MB Meteor Felix the Cat
Ref. ALT42-MT-DLC-FELIX-B (bracelet)
Ref. ALT42-MT-DLC-FELIX-L-S (strap)

Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.23 mm
Material: Titanium
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 100 m

Movement: BB14-AH
Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds, and date
Winding: Automatic
Frequency: 28,000 beats per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 68 hours

Strap: Titanium bracelet or embossed rubber strap.

Limited edition: 500 pieces
Availability: From Bremont and retailers
Price: US$6,850 (bracelet) or US$6,450 (strap) excluding taxes

For more, visit Bremont.com.