The BFG® Limited-Edition Elliot Brown Holton Automatic GMT: Form Meets Function

Feb 26th 2025

The BFG® Limited-Edition Elliot Brown Holton Automatic GMT: Form Meets Function

BFG® Watch

The BFG® Limited-Edition Elliot Brown Holton Automatic GMT: Form Meets Function 


Always Better® | February 27th, 2025


Blue Force Gear has been known to collaborate with brands that match our design philosophy. We manufacture gear for professionals to use to make their lives easier – and better. And the level with which we measure ourselves is exceedingly high. Blue Force Gear came across British watchmaker Elliot Brown and could tell that their standards were aligned with our own. Conversations began, and the BFG Limited-Edition Holton Automatic GMT Watch was born. 

The BFG Limited-Edition Holton Automatic Watch by Elliot Brown is the quintessential timepiece for the discerning professional. This exceptional watch, crafted in Poole, England, builds upon Elliott Brown's impressive heritage, which includes exclusive productions for various UK military and police special operations units since their founding in 2013. 

At the heart of this timepiece lies a perfect fusion of durability and sophistication. The watch features a robust 43mm stainless steel case finished with a pale gunmetal PVD coating and complemented by a 22mm lug width. The NIVO-colored dial, originally developed for the British military, showcases a subtle yet distinctive semi-gloss BFG reticle logo – a knowing nod to enthusiasts that maintains the brand's understated approach to collaboration. 

The watch's functionality seamlessly combines the adventurous spirit of a GMT timepiece with the rugged capability of a dive watch. Its 120-click bezel provides precise timing capabilities, functioning as both a time zone tracker and an elapsed time scale for everyday use. The watch face features Swiss C3 Superluminova for excellent nighttime visibility, while an internal anti-reflective coating ensures clear daytime reading. Because it’s BFG, the lume is done in blue instead of EB’s regular yellow green.  This is the first time Elliot Brown has done this.

Powering this masterpiece is the Seiko NH34 automatic movement, housed within a unique anti-shock system. This mechanical marvel converts the natural motion of the wearer's wrist into energy, storing up to 40 hours of power reserve. The movement also drives a practical date function, adding versatility without compromising the clean aesthetic of the dial. 

The watch's durability is further enhanced by a screw-down crown and impressive 200-meter water resistance rating. However, perhaps the most groundbreaking feature is the innovative strap system. For the first time in commercial release, the watch incorporates Blue Force Gear's proprietary ULTRAcomp high-performance coated fabric laminate. This revolutionary material surpasses traditional webbing in both strength and abrasion resistance while maintaining a remarkably thin profile. The material's inherent antimicrobial and hydrophobic properties ensure lasting comfort and cleanliness. 

This attention to detail in the strap design has practical benefits beyond durability – the thin profile allows the watch to sit lower on the wrist, making the 43mm case wear more like a 41mm. This innovation represents the culmination of nearly a decade of experimentation, dating back to 2013 when early prototypes were first tested with titanium quartz watches. 

The BFG Limited-Edition Holton Automatic GMT stands as a testament to thoughtful design and practical innovation, offering a perfect balance of professional functionality and refined aesthetics. It's a timepiece that honors both companies' commitment to excellence while pushing the boundaries of watch design and materials technology. As with other BFG limited edition items, it will only be available while supplies last. It’s priced to be obtainable but not cheap. Perfect for wearing in the field or with a tuxedo while drinking a shaken and not stirred martini. Get yours today and be one of 100 to own this exclusive classic. 


Watch Shot Show 2025 Talk on the Watch

Shot Show 2025 – Blue Force Gear Booth

Speaker (Blue Force Gear):
Welcome to the Blue Force Gear booth at Shot Show 2025. I’m here with my buddies from Elliot Brown in the UK—nice to see you, and glad to have you all. We’re doing something new this year: a watch! Blue Force Gear isn’t going into the watch business full-time, but we’re doing a limited-edition, one-time collaboration.

I’m a bit of a watch junkie, and Maz is new to the “watch-collecting disease.” I’ve been looking for a company to partner with for a custom Blue Force Gear watch. I heard about Elliot Brown, located in Poole, England. I happened to be there visiting a client, and their website said they were in a working boatyard near the base—naturally, I was skeptical. Sure enough, I showed up, and they really were in a boatyard right next to the base, within walking distance. Real guys were in there buying watches the day I arrived, and that’s when I said, “These are my people.” So we partnered up!

Speaker (Elliot Brown):
Thanks for having us. Elliot Brown really got on the map with the Holton. We created it in collaboration with a UK Special Forces unit (we won’t say which, but everyone knows). I believe we’re one of the first watch companies to do a true R&D process with an SF unit to build something they couldn’t break. As you know, those units are very good at destroying gear—it’s practically their job!

It took time, but we eventually landed on the Holton design and tested it thoroughly. That same platform is what we’ve used for the Blue Force Gear watch. The watch has some heft to it because of the titanium movement shield we use in all of our models, which gives our watches serious durability.

We’ve tried our best to destroy them—hitting them with golf clubs, shooting them, exposing them to 500 Gs of blast shock, and so on. They survive remarkable depths, too. We strapped one to the outside of a micro-submarine and it finally quit at 1,928 meters underwater. If you’re that deep, you’ve got bigger problems than telling the time! We put our watches through their paces, so we can confidently say they’re some of the toughest out there.

Speaker (Blue Force Gear):
A couple of my favorite features are the removable strap bars, which replace standard spring bars. The Blue Force Gear edition specifically ships with a band we made from our UltraComp® material, using Elliot Brown’s patented buckle. That buckle is a clever piece of origami—tricky to figure out at first. I think I emailed you guys twice asking for instructions! You mentioned you’re making how-to videos, which will help.

We’ll have these watches in our booth this year, and they’ll be on our website soon. Look for the BFG edition Holton featuring blue lume, the reticle logo on the face, “Always Better” engraved on the side, a custom case back, and a run limited to just 100 pieces.

 
 


Limited Edition BFG® Watch by Elliot Brown



About Chris Sizelove

Chris Sizelove is a retired Master Sergeant who had a distinguished career in the U.S. Army. Joining in 1999, he served in various capacities in the elite 75th Ranger Regiment spanning across the 2nd, 3rd, and 1st Battalions. His extensive service includes roles as a Pre-Ranger Instructor and a pivotal participant in forming the Regimental Special Troops Battalion (RSTB). Sizelove also held the elite position of Master Breacher of the Regiment and later transitioned to roles in the Defense Intelligence Agency. 



About Blue Force Gear® 

BFG, headquartered in Pooler, Georgia, has been a trusted name in professional-grade gear and accessories for two decades. Their commitment to excellence, innovative designs, and use of premium materials have made them a favorite among military, law enforcement, and recreational shooters worldwide.

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