It was only a matter of time before the owners of Bremont and Bamford Watch Department bumped into each other, what with Bremont’s first boutique being located on the same Mayfair street as the British customisation specialist.
Bremont co-founders Nick and Giles English and BWD owner George Bamford must have spoken about a collaboration for many years, but have only this week come up with their first watch together, the Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition.
The watch, which is limited in production to 250 pieces, is based on Bremont’s Supermarine S500 dive watch, a model most popular with military customers who make up 25% of sales for the British manufacturer.
The 43mm steel watch comes in stealthy black DLC case and black dial with Bamford’s signature blue accents.
It has a sandwich dial with its hour markers in blue Superluminova peaking through from below the black surface.
“I always said we should do something together and this project feels so right,” says Mr Bamford.
“Our signature black with a raised ceramic bezel and unique arrow hand, as well as the California dial, work so well on one of their iconic watches. I love the California dial and the integration of two styles. I feel it represents the blend of two British brands working together. Also using what feels like a military blue, it emulates the crossover and bringing together of Bamford Watch Department and Bremont.”
California dials have half Roman and half Arabic numerals and the hours of 3, 6, and 9 are sometimes replaced with a dash instead of a numeral and an inverted triangle in place of the 12.
The super-rugged watches, water resistant to 500 metres, use chronometer-rated Calibre 11 1/2’’ BE-36AE automatic movements.
They are worn on black sailcloth straps with blue stitching.
The Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition is on sale now for £3,995.
