NEW Elliot Brown Holton Professional Watches for 2023

The experts behind Elliot Brown are obsessive about details and about reaching excellence in all that they achieve. Both Ian Elliot and Alex Brown bring together a background of around 20 years of knowledge and know-how. It makes the brand’s watches for extreme sport and outdoor adventure very unique indeed. Take the Holsten Professional watch as an example. It’s the first military-issue watch to be released by a British brand in over a decade. The watch came into existence off the back of another watch that was worn on the wrist of military personnel. Having realised just how durable these wristwatches were, not to mention comfortable, a new watch was requested. One that was tailored to specific functional requirements making it a perfect fit for its role. Like any military watch, the Holton watch’s values in durability, accuracy, legibility and reliability make it an equally suitable watch for other walks of life. You can utilise the Holton watch whilst at the gym, for example, or when hiking, biking or mountaineering.

There are few watches that have been authentically developed for a sole purpose such as the military, and few issued as a piece of military equipment. When this happened with the Holton, it really made experts at Elliot Brown take a step back and realise just what this meant as an achievement. The brand was firmly on its way to achieving its goal – to be the creator of some of the world’s most, robust and hard-wearing watches of all time. The Holton soon became Elliot Brown’s most requested model and has been aligned with functionality and robustness ever since.

The case of the Holton watch has clean lines and an architecture that donates a utilitarian style to the wrist. Hobnail knurling around the bezel and ultra-clear markings for measuring time are just a few key traits of the Holton’s design, not to mention bold indexes that work perfectly at night, thanks to generous layers of Super-LumiNova. On a practical level, there is no denying the longevity of a watch like the Holton on the wrist. Its triple-sealed screw-down crown at 4 o’clock is recessed, sitting neatly out of harm’s way, whilst a sapphire crystal glass top is 2mm thick, making it a perfect shield for protecting the dial from damage.  Solid screw strap bars are also integrated into the design of the Holton watch, making quick strap changes a complete cinch. The collection takes its name from a location in Dorset, like all collections by Elliot Brown. Holsten watches named after Holton Heath are now available in a range of different styles, the latest that we’re covering being the 101-004 NIVO Bronze, the 101-001-R06 with a 12-hour function and the 101-A11 Automatic.

The NIVO reference in the bronze Holton watch by Elliot Brown stands for Night Invisible Varnish Orfordness. The unique dial colour was discovered whilst the brand was exploring military-specific colours that differed from the dull tones normally associated with military watches. Originally developed at Orfordness experimental station as a paint for British bombers, its shade certainly adds something dynamic to the entire Holton watch range. The NIVO dial has been combined with a stainless steel IP bronze case that delivers all the warmth associated with bronze but without the discolouration effects. The watch, like its two new siblings, is resistant to dust, scratching and prolonged exposure to water not to mention shock resistant and clearly visible for use during the night or in dark conditions. The Elliot Brown Holton NIVO Bronze watch has a 120-click high grip bezel with a hardened insert and C3 Super-LumiNova markers that combine with a hobnail outer knurling. The surface of the bezel is hardened with a micron PVD-coating and a bead-blasted finish.

The Holton 101-001-R06 12 Hour watch swaps out the 60-minute bezel for a 12-hour bezel in this model. To use it you simply rotate it anti-clockwise until its hour markers correspond to the time distance required, enabling you to read off the time in the second zone easily and freely. The rest of the watch is designed similarly to its two new siblings, this time with a gunmetal PVD-coated stainless steel case measuring a 43mm diameter. It features a recessed crown with screws that secure into the case, as well as a triple-sealed hobnail knurling effect that promotes an easy grip. The watch also features a black dial with plenty of C3 Super-LumiNova material reminiscent of vintage military watches, as well as clear hands, a sword-shaped hour hand, and a 2mm sapphire crystal glass front. The watch is powered by a quartz movement, the same as the NIVO Bronze watch. It also comes fitted on a matte black EDM rubber band, offering a sportier finish compared to the Bronze IP stainless steel bracelet of the NIVO Bronze watch.

The Holton 101-001 Automatic watch looks similar to its two counterparts with beige-coloured Arabic numerals marking out the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock locations. Its matte bead-blasted finish gives it a super technical appeal that marries beautifully with the grey-green coloured Super-LumiNova material used for the Arabic numerals, the stick indexes and the hands. A hardened bezel insert gives a clear format for measuring elapsed time whilst underwater and as with the other Holton professional watches, it guarantees a water resistance of 200 meters. Powered by the rhythm of the human wrist, the automatic movement is a Seiko one. The NH35 automatic movement provides a power reserve of 40 hours and is held inside an anti-shock suspension system. Fitted on a black rubber band but easily just as wearable when strapped on an advanced webbing strap, the Holton professional automatic model is designed to withstand rust, corrosion, water, dust and extreme conditions not to mention high levels of shock impact.

Whichever way you look at it, all three of the new Holton Professional watches by Elliot Brown have a little something unique to offer whilst promising plenty of attention when worn on the wrist. Don’t be surprised to see the odd person clocking his head to read the name on the dial of your watch if you choose a watch from the Holton range. That said, it’s only a matter of time before Elliot Brown watches begin to get the attention they deserve with their instantly recognisable designs and impressive functionality.

If you’d like more information on any of the watches you’ve seen in this article, call our Jura Watches sales team today on 01335 453453 where a member of the team will be more than happy to offer guidance and advice on each model and its best features.