Has This Cult-Classic Pilot’s Watch Found Watchmaking’s Next Snoopy?

Cartoon characters and luxury watches may seem like an odd pairing, but for some reason, they work.

Ever since Gérald Genta slapped Mickey Mouse on the dial of his eponymous brand’s five-figure watches in the 1980s, cartoon characters have held hallowed status in horological lore. Maybe that’s due to their whimsy, as they remind us to not take watchmaking too seriously. Or perhaps it’s the juxtaposition of a piece of child’s entertainment next to an adult luxury item.

Whatever the case, cartoon luxury watches are big business these days, with the most notable example by far being Omega’s Speedmaster Silver Snoopy Award, which ranks as the Biel/Bienne brand’s most-coveted, and arguably coolest, watch.

Part of what makes the Silver Snoopy so appealing is its historical significance. Omega didn’t randomly select the Peanuts beagle as its Speedmaster mascot. Snoopy was chosen because of his longstanding relationship with NASA, and specifically to honor the Silver Snoopy Award, a NASA civilian award handed out by astronauts, that Omega received in 1970 for the Speedmaster’s crucial role in saving the lives of the Apollo 13 astronauts.

Now, Bremont, a brand best-known for its pilot’s watches, has found a fitting Snoopy of its very own in the centenarian cartoon cat Felix, who actually has a century-old tradition of flying alongside U.S. Navy fighter pilots.

Bremont

Watch your six

Felix’s main association with aviation is with the U.S. Navy fighter squadron known as the “Tomcatters,” a name derived from their adoption of Felix as their mascot. The relationship dates back to the 1920s and the VF-3 unit, which used an image of Felix carrying a bomb as their official insignia.

The squadron changed names a few times, and there was even a years-long debate over who got to keep Felix when the VF-3 and VF-6 squadrons swapped call signs in the 1940s. In 1948, VF-3 became VF-31, AKA the Tomcatters, who still use Felix carrying a bomb as the insignia on their planes and uniforms today.

Using this admittedly interesting Felix lore as a springboard for this collab, Bremont has taken its Altitude MB Meteor, the current version of the brand’s flagship, ejection seat-tested pilot’s watch, and given it a Tomcatter-inspired makeover.

Bremont

The Altitude MB Meteor “Felix the Cat” features Bremont’s ultra-durable, three-part “Trip-Tick” case in 42mm and made of black DLC-coated Grade 2 titanium, with a matching bracelet given the same treatment. The dial is also matte-black, giving the watch a stealthy vibe that also matches its the color of its feline collaborator.

The handset and applied Arabic numeral indices are all outlined in black and filled with blue-emission Super-LumiNova for excellent nighttime legibility. The seconds hand retains its signature ejection-pull counterweight in striped black and yellow, with matching yellow accents showing up on the minute track. The 12:00 arrow marker on the inner rotating bezel is in red, matching the lollipop tip of the seconds hand.

Bremont

Of course, the most notable thing about the dial is the appearance of an applied Felix figure at 6:00. He’s depicted in mid-stride, running away with a big smile on his face while literally carrying off the six index. The fun addition is both a play on the term “watch your six,” which fighter pilots use to let each other know an enemy is behind them, and a nod to Felix’s notoriously mischievous nature.

The iconic character also shows up on the caseback, with an image of his smiling face and logo appearing on the sapphire exhibition window over the La Joux Perret G100-b Calibre BB14 automatic movement, which sports some decoration and boasts a power reserve of 68 hours.

Despite the cartoon connection, this special edition remains as rugged as any other MB Meteor. A rubber mount surrounds the movement, protecting it from shocks, while a soft iron cage surrounds that to guard against magnetic interference. The watch is also water resistant to 100m.

Bremont

Availability and pricing

While I don’t see Bremont’s Felix watch usurping the Omega Silver Snoopy as the king of cartoon watches, this is nevertheless a super fun addition to the Altitude lineup with an interesting historical connection to boot.

I suspect it will be a strong seller for Bremont, and given how few the brand is making, it will likely be a fast seller, too. The Altitude MB Meteor “Felix the Cat” is a limited edition of just 500 pieces worldwide. It’s available on a textured black leather strap for $6,450 or on a matching quick-release black DLC titanium bracelet for $6,850. Both options are available now on Bremont’s website.

Bremont

Bremont Altitude MB Meteor ‘Felix the Cat’

Specs

Case Size	42mm
Movement	Bremont Cal. BB14 autmoatic (LJP-based)
Water Resistance	100m

• Starts at $6,450

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