Our Story

THE BRAND

Beaufort is about far more than just quality watches. This brand stands to invigorate the present with designs from the past.

With our first watch release (the Aerotimer) we have fused a variety of WWII era design cues with modern features to create a high-quality modern wristwatch.

The goal was to create a timeless watch that fits all the criteria of what we would look for in a watch. A watch with a great story, captivating design, and one that over-delivers on its specifications given the price range.

 

------------

 

Beaufort Watches is a New Zealand based watch company - Named after the ‘Bristol Beaufort’, a WWII torpedo bomber that was mainly operated by the British, Australian, and New Zealand Air Forces. (Pictured above and below).

As a New Zealand brand, it only felt right to name the brand after a piece of New Zealand’s military heritage.

The Bristol Beaufort was an RAF aircraft, developed and built in the UK (later also produced in Australia), and was in service in the New Zealand Air Force from 1941-1942. RAF aircraft were operated by 489 (NZ) Squadron. The RAF variant was the Beaufort Mk I.

Bristol Beaufort planes (No.39 Squadron RAF) flying in formation over the Mediterranean Sea circa 1942.

Bristol Beaufort planes (No.39 Squadron RAF) flying in formation over the Mediterranean Sea circa 1942.

 

The first prototype of the Bristol Beaufort L4441 photographed at RAF Norholt in May 1939. (Photograph by Charles E. Brown).

 The first prototype of the Bristol Beaufort L4441 photographed at RAF Norholt in May 1939. (Photograph by Charles E. Brown).

 

Production of RAAF Bristol Beaufort Mk.VII or VIII (note ASV Radar array on rear fuselage, and small blue/white Pacific Theatre roundels) torpedo bombers at the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) plant in Fisherman's Bend, Melbourne (Australia), circa 1943/1944.

Production of RAAF Bristol Beaufort Mk.VII or VIII (note ASV Radar array on rear fuselage, and small blue/white Pacific Theatre roundels) torpedo bombers at the Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) plant in Fisherman's Bend, Melbourne (Australia), circa 1943/1944.