Elliot Brown Holton Auto GMT NIVO long term review:
Disclaimer: Elliot Brown kindly supplied this watch to review, I did not pay for this watch nor was I paid to write this review. This is a long-term review, starting with the watch and specs and will evolve into how I have found having the EB on the wrist.
Elliot Brown first came onto the SBWC scene earlier this year, when our Founder @ricoswatches put into words his first ever experience with an EB watch - the Beachmaster “Ghost”... Long story short he is now a huge fan of the brand but if you want to read the full review click HERE:
The ‘Spirit’ of a Tool Watch: A Review of the Elliot Brown Beachmaster – sketchyboyzwatchclub.com
I had the pleasure of reviewing the Elliot Brown Holton Auto GMT NIVO, to you the SBWC community. Unlike our founder I have had previous experience with EB: The original Holton Professional, a watch with a “If you know, you know” reputation. This was a personally bought watch with some sentimental engraving on the case back where the NATO Stock Number (NSN) would normally be located. It is a watch that will not leave my collection and has been through various military training courses with me.
What is the Holton GMT NIVO?
Based on the watch that has been issued to one of the UK’s top tier military units. The GMT had the perfect platform to begin its life. Priced at £795 GBP circa $1000 USD and developed to be able to withstand the harsh conditions and maintain its accuracy, the Holton was put through vigorous testing including being blown up with various weighted charges of plastic explosive (Search EB Watches on Youtube).
What is NIVO? An acronym for Night Invisible Varnish Orfordness, a colourway that was uncovered whilst researching military colours away from the usual OD, Black and Desert. The colour was originally developed for British bombers, to be matched both the colour and gloss level of open water at night. A very subtle feature which ties in nicely with the use of a GMT being designed to be the go-to for somebody airborne. The colourway does not feature in any Pantone or RAL reference charts making this a real unique colour option to the EB brand. Do not worry, if this colourway doesn’t take your fancy EB offer various other colours including All Black, Black with a white dial, Steel and their brand-new case the EBINOX hardened case.
Quality control:
Packaging – The GMT, like my Holton Professional, arrived at my door extremely promptly having confirmed delivery details with the team at Poole. Greeted with an EB printed cardboard box, on opening you see the Elliot Brown embossed fabric case sat securely within its outer protection that the watch arrives in. The case isn’t the most luxurious box I’ve ever seen however its completely suited to the watch it protects, fit for the purpose to transport your watch and keep it safe - no more no less. Something I would point out though is that the box does double up as a travel case which I find more useful than having a leather lined, wooden box that lives in a dark room never to be seen again. Inside you are supplied with the star drive tool to remove the screw down bars and find the watch fitted on the EB rubber strap.
Dial – The softer hues that come from the NIVO really allows the X1 C3 lume markers and numerals to really stand out on this dial. Complimented with a bold sword hand set the Holton GMT is certainly legible in low light conditions. The stand out point of the dial is the broad arrow GMT hand, traditionally printed onto the dial of its counter part Holton models, this watch has it removed for a cleaner look. With the shaft of the GMT hand being dark it blends into the dial and has a floating appearance. The broad arrow is a historic British marking for identifying government property and used on multiple military watches, it has become part of the design ethos within the EB range on its military watches.
Bezel – It wasn’t just the case that was designed to be robust, the GMT comes equipped with a hardened luminous bezel insert with 24hr markings covered with the same X1 C3 Lume as the dial. Possibly one of the most aggressive bezels I’ve felt there is no risk of this bezel slipping through your fingers. EB provide the following disclaimer “N.B. this bezel is unapologetically fit for purpose. Please be aware it is likely to catch or wear shirt cuffs etc.”
Strap – One of the best stock rubber straps I’ve had the pleasure of dealing with comes as standard on the Holton GMT, soft and subtle yet extremely secure with no worries this will snap or deteriorate. Like the colourways, there are various strap options that you can pick from including matching PVD bracelet and most recently the option to purchase the All-British collaboration of Zulu Alpha Straps x Elliot Brown. This watch can be paired with any 22mm strap to suit your acquired taste.
Movement – Powered by the NH34 automatic movement housed in EB’s unique anti-shock system, it provides the Japanese reliability that can withstand the battering that this watch has been designed for. Triple sealed, high grip screw down crown recessed out at the 4h marker; this is all ties in with the functionality of the watch and being able to provide a 200m WR without being snagged.
Life with an EB on the wrist:
Having received this watch earlier in the year I wanted to provide a real-world long-term review of the watch and at the time had an upcoming deployment. It seemed right to take it overseas and down route on whatever trip may come my way. I will caveat before I go into this, I’m no tier 1 operator so this may not be the Jack Carr novel you want to read, but I hope will provide real world feedback into having the EB on the wrist.
Without going into too many details my job involves a lot of travelling undergoing various taskings, from humanitarian, troop transport and shipping cargo around the globe in some good places and some “sketchy”.
Very quickly I found the Holton the perfect watch for my job, living and breathing in Zulu Time yet travelling to different time zones the use of a GMT watch becomes more useful than having a phone. Yes, phones can show various time zones but they do run out of battery and when things are being pushed with time constraints the simplicity to be able to look at your wrist becomes a luxury.
The lume with EB products is simply incredible, whether stepping from outside into the darkness of the aircraft with no ground power applied. On the flip side having flown through the night and removing NVG’s you can still look at your wrist and the lume still charged and displaying that critical Zulu time. A feature which makes for a pretty IG photo however in the real world has proven its weight in gold.
With the nature of the job being around aircraft, tooling, kit etc there is no way I will use my higher value watches to do my job. I’m all for wearing all my watches but I won’t put them in harms way for the sake of it. This is where the EB comes into its own and within my collection it has quickly become a favourite over higher value watches. Knowing that you have a real tool watch on the wrist allows you to operate at the highest level without the distraction that a more prized possession would create. The synergy is like no other when kitted up with armour, personal weapons on a high priority task and its good to know that the EB won’t let you down for them timing requirements.
When speaking with Gemma at EB, we discussed how people comment that EB has no military legacy like other watch brands. However, with a company that was founded in 2013 is that fair to put that label on EB? Maybe we should look at their achievements instead? They have designed and issued a watch for the Special Boat Service (SBS) - One of the UK’s Tier One units, I can’t wait to see what is next. Our friends at Watches of Espionage (WoE) wrote a full article regarding this partnership and is well worth a read (LINK HERE).
Elliot Brown & The Special Boat Service – Watches of Espionage
Summary:
If you want a genuine tool watch then Elliot Brown’s Holton range has something for you. Whether its for GMT requirements or not, I would highly recommend them to anyone. If its good enough for the SBS I can tell you now its good enough for any of us! At this price point I can’t think of many watches that I’d rather have on the wrist. For current and ex-military personnel EB also offer a 20% discount on their products, so go check them out!
I’d like to thank Elliot Brown for working with us on the collaborations this year and we are very excited to our future working with the team at Poole!
As always:
Stay Sketchy
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