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Bremont s500 bamford special edition 10

Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition Release


There was a time when Bamford Watch Department’s unconventional approach to customisation was looked down upon by watch traditionalists. Co-founder George Bamford’s contemporary ethos, spurred by a desire to stand out from the crowd, saw him DLC coat a Rolex, reimagine an Audemars Piguet and transform a Patek Philippe, much to the dismay of the watch community at the time. But as the years rolled on and individuality took hold, the role of the Bamford Watch Department changed altogether, most notably in 2017 when it became the official customiser for TAG Heuer, Zenith and Bulgari. Flash-forward to 2022 and the brand is still angering the traditionalists, but in an entirely different way.

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Image: Bremont

Bamford has teamed up with British watchmaker Bremont for a new special edition release that plays off both brands’ unique heritages. The new Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition introduces a vibrant lume and DLC finish to Bremont’s signature Supermarine dive watch, and is limited to just 250 pieces worldwide. Brash and unashamedly black, the new collaboration echos the rugged and robust nature of the original design, albeit with a refined palette.

From the outset, Bamford’s trademark DLC finish paints an imposing picture. The deep matte black finish is beautifully contrasted by the addition of ‘California Blue’ Super-LumiNova across the newly styled hands and indexes. Remarkably, this marks the first iteration of a California dial, a watch face that features half Roman and half Arabic numerals, for both Bremont and Bamford. The dial is further enhanced by increased luminosity via a unique ‘layered dial’ construction. According to Bremont, the layered dial is comprised of a solid disc of luminous material which is covered with a plate with index apertures to expose the lume as characters. The result is a far stronger and more legible design.

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Image: Bremont

Under the hood, the new Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition is a Bremont beast, powered by a modified Calibre 11 1/2’’ BE-36AE automatic chronometer movement that dishes out 38 hours power reserve. The watch also features a DLC treated stainless steel screw-in and decorated case back, alongside a uni-directional bezel, designed for diving.

For Bremont and Bamford, the new 43mm timepiece marks a crossover a long time in the making. Both pioneers in the British watchmaking space, founders George Bamford and Nick English have shared a storied history together, intrinsically linked by geography and heritage.

“I always said we should do something together and this project feels so right,” Bamford said. “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.”

It’s true that many conservatives still argue that customisation is a dirty word, but Bamford’s latest collaboration with British watchmaker Bremont might get them hot under the collar. Not simply because it goes against the tried and tested, but more so because it looks undeniably spectacular doing it. The new Bremont S500 Bamford Special Edition is available now, limited to 250 pieces worldwide and priced at AUD$6,600.

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