Bamford Watch Department
Gasp! A PVD Coated Rolex
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The Rolex submariner has been a cultural icon ever since Sean Connery wore one in Dr. No. It’s a watch that wasn’t created just to be pretty, but also to thrive under pressure (in this case, 300m under water)…kind of like a good Bond Girl. However, even though this is my dream watch, aside from that little crown on the dial, they’re visually unremarkable.
Bamford Watch Department has taken it upon themselves to rectify this situation. They offer the ability to create a one of a kind watch by selecting different colors for the dial, luminescent indices, date wheel, date, and even the ability to add 8 characters of text to the dial (”TRUSTFND,” perhaps). The coup de grace is their unique PVD formula or “physical vapor deposition” coating for the stainless steel. This process blackens all of the stainless steel with a near diamond hard coating, which looks bad ass. With an intuitive website (similar to that of Nike ID) and endless possible combinations, it’s wicked cool. An extra four grand is enough to buy a second used Rolex, but if individuality is imperative, Bamford is the place to go. If we can do it for our cars, computers, and shoes, why not a watch?
Editor’s Note: Purists will probably choke on their caviar at the defiling of this Swiss masterpiece. But, for way less than some of the more limited-run luxury watches you’re getting a classic timepiece and it’s one of a kind. If you’re interested in one of the other Rolex Professional watches contact BMD for pricing. Now if only they’d add orange to the color options, maybe I could expense myself a GP style Sub, or at the very least, design one.
Outside Perspective by Ben Bowers: After discussing Bamford with Brian (one of the many watched obsessed staffers of GP), I learned some interesting facts. For instance, if after having Bamford customize your sub, you find the need to send it to Rolex for repairs/maintenance, apparently they will remove all of the customized work added by Bamford, replace them with standard Rollie parts and bill you for the labor! Talk about purist!
Cost: ~$10,000 (£7,000)
More photos of Bamford Watch Department Watches after the jump.
Please give me a f-ing break.
Excuse my French, but remind me again why Gear Patrol is promoting a $10,000 piece of wrist snobbery?
Your example about the Rolex maintenance department is exactly why I will never own one. Removing your customizations and billing you for it? That’s not *purist*, that’s arrogant, asinine, and insulting.
Imagine if you bought a Corvette and spent thousands customizing it — performance engine parts, custom paint, the works. You take it to the Chevy dealer for an oil change and they rip all of your customizations off, and then have the audacity to *charge you* for it.
You would never do business with them again, and either sue or deck the service manager. And you’re encouraging men to *pay* for this kind of insulting “service?”
I understand the write-up is for the customization, not the watch, but the two go hand in hand. Please, write about a dive watch that doesn’t reek with arrogance, like perhaps this that has the EXACT functionality and good looks of the Rolex you show, for 4/100ths of the price.
Does anybody here actually dive with a $10,000 Rolex? Seriously. I’ll keep the $9,000 savings and buy, I don’t know, a motorcycle.
A “Real Man” owns watches he can use, not just brag about.
HTML code didn’t work properly, apologies for the giant link in the post.
Benjamin,
It’s coincidental you bring this up as I heard from both Brian and Jason that they were both quite against the idea of the Bamford Watch Department which Ben hinted at. You’re right, this is more about the customization which I’m sure you’ll agree - men go to pretty far extremes (some understandably, some not) to have something be unique or different. One man’s love might be another man’s repugnance.
If you get a sec make sure and look at the Zinex or Doxa watch reviews that Jason used on his last dive trip. They’re both what I’d qualify as true dive-specific watches.
I wear a Panerai Luminor and though I don’t consider myself a snob I do have an appreciation for fine timepieces as many men do. Not justifying for or against but sometimes it’s just good to see what else is out there.
Side note: I’m not a diver myself, I have gone snorkeling with my Panerai though. In retrospect though I think I should have followed some advice and worn the Casio G-Shock. Either way, I’m a big fan of both.
Eric -
I understand that some men might pay $10,000 to change the color of their watch. (!)
I also understand that the other 99.999% of us have better things to do with that kind of money. I would buy a 2000 Mustang, personally. But that’s my point — don’t you think GP could focus a little more on cool gear that doesn’t cost as must as a sports car?
Benjamin,
First off thanks for reading and commenting. We’d rather have active readers than indifferent one’s. As Eric said some of the points you brought up were debated internally when I first wrote the post. Rolex supposedly returning your watch to stock if you send it in modified is obscene, I completely agree there. I would probably be violating their neutrality status if that happened to me. Though having been to Switzerland, I am not surprised, they are a very specific people, probably why they make such good watches. I think if you reread Ben’s addition to my post you’ll see he wasn’t at all encouraging guys to get that service from Rolex, but more warning them. No different than Mac not covering unlocked iPhones. Also, to clarify, the post was in no way intended to champion Rolex watches, it was to highlight Bamford’s customization. I would have thought it just as relevant if they were doing it to Invicta’s.
Regarding the Invicta, it definitely has similar functionality to the Submariner, but not EXACTLY the same (200m vs. 300m depth rating, basic ETA 2824-2 vs. COSC in house movement). But, debating the functional attributes of mechanical watches is stupid since a $20 Timex digital keeps far better time.
People’s decisions to spend money is their own. Some people certainly buy Rolex as a statement on their financial situation. Others because they truly enjoy the worksmanship of the movement or the history of the brand. No different than people saving up to buy a classic car, instead of a used Corolla. I personally would never spend money on a 2000 Mustang. And, as a purely fiscal decision buying a motorcycle or domestic muscle car would be a far less intelligent decision as both depreciate at a much higher rate than a Rolex, which can actually appreciate.
The “Real Man” thing is a whole debate in and of itself. Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay wore Rolex Explorers, I hardly think it was to be arrogant.
As a website we aim to find a balance of what’s attainable and things to aspire to. We realize that for most people a 10k watch isn’t in the cards, but neither is a 67′ Fastback, but I still like looking. Be sure to check Jason’s posts about the Doxa and Zinex. And be sure to check back, I have a few watches I am hoping to review that I think might be more up your alley. Also, take a look at http://www.watchuseek.com, it’s a great watch forum with fans of all price points for watches.
Thanks Again,
Jon
Benjamin,
I am in complete agreement with you in terms of ever spending that much cash on a watch. My note at the end of Jon’s post was meant to highlight (in my opinion)the ridiculous world that surrounds high end watches, not suggest that it was somehow worthwhile. I guess I need to work on the tone of my writing.
However, like Eric said earlier, many of our writers do appreciate high quality time pieces and like to feature them because of their interest. I personally am an electronics geek and would rather spend my cash (or dream of spending cash I’d hope to have one day) on stereos, tv’s etc. But it’s all relative and a matter of personal choice.
In terms of GP’s focus, I would encourage you to voice your opinions in our up coming user survey. Our plan is to put up a survey on site with the hopes of gaining information from our audience on what products they’d like to see more of, things they feel we’re doing poorly on, etc.
All of us at GP feel that our readers wants and needs are our top priority, so any feedback like this is always great as it just helps us to better plan our direction moving forward.
Cheers,
Ben
Interesting debate and one i’m inclined to join in on as I have a serious love for high end watches.
Rolex produces superb watches, there is absolutely no denying that. The quality and craftsmanship are a thing of beauty. They are also very solid ‘tool’ watches and as such they are very capable of taking a beating and for being used for the intended purpose of diving. They are solid and they look very nice. I’ve also known about Bamford for a while and have had an all black / red text version bookmarked since i first stumbled across it.
That said, I would choose about 1000 watches (particularly in that price range) before purchasing a Rolex, specially the more expensive customized Rolex from Bamford. Not just because of the cost but because far too many people purchase a Rolex simply to show the Rolex name to their buddies down at the country club.
As for your comparison to Invicta, they simply are not the same, not even close. I own an Invicta, I like Invictas, they make very nice (very reasonably priced) watches, but their product is no where close to the high quality of Rolex. That’s like comparing a Ford to a Rolls Royce, they just aren’t the same.
For the record, my two favorite watches are Hamiltons, I don’t think you can beat the cost : quality ratio and they look really damn good to boot. Keeping that in mind, if I had the spare change, you better believe I would add the Bamford customized Rolex to my collection. But I would also have pieces from Patek and VC which make the cost of a Rolex look more like that of an Invicta.
I don’t see these kinds of topics as promoting any sort of snobbery. Some guys like expensive watches, some guys like expensive cars, some like expensive wines or bourbons, even. I like seeing these types of articles. Even though I’m unable to spend this kind of coin on a watch (or at least I’m unable to justify it, lol) I still appreciate seeing it. Just my two cents, as they say.
Alan,
Thanks for commenting. Very well put. Glad you enjoyed the article.
-Jon
Well I certainly am not trying to criticize Gear Patrol — after all, if I didn’t enjoy it enough to comment, I wouldn’t be writing this right now!
But, I did want to offer constructive criticism. I do believe that the vast majority of your readers have little interest in $10,000 watches and would rather read about, say, the Invicta already mentioned (though that’s just and example.) Style and value.
I am a watch guy. I love looking at them, playing with them, talking about them, debating them (you noticed!) I’m somewhat active on the WatchuSeek forum mentioned by Jon — and this is all just opinion. I just have honestly never understood the reason to buy a Rolex, just because it has a crown on the face. I guess that’s what I meant by “real man” — which is Gear Patrol’s words, not mine — independent thinking, real value, substance instead of hype. A “real man” (quote quote) has gear he can use, not just to look pretty.
What’s the point of a beautiful classic car that sits in a garage all day and is never enjoyed? What’s the point of a $10,000 dive watch that you can’t take down into a wreck because you’re afraid you might scratch it? And don’t say $10,000 makes it more accurate, because automatic watches, aren’t.
Sir Edmund Hillary wore a Rolex because at that time they were some of the most accurate and rugged timepieces out there. There was function. Quartz didn’t come along really until the 70’s.
Again, I’m not putting down Rolex. I personally don’t see the value, but people can spend their money however they wish. I am simply saying, from somebody who enjoys reading Gear Patrol, perhaps more focus on gear that balances value and function would make for better reading.
Couldn’t agree more with the statement of “finding more gear that balances value and function”, especially in this day and age. That said, it’s nice unearthing things that more casual male readers would have not otherwise not known about.
Heck, I’d be willing to bet a new watch strap that half the gear that comes across our desks are items we’ve never even heard of before. A lot of it not even worth the time it takes to sign for the package (or write about), but a lot of items do warrant sharing.
I recently travelled to Japan, and they have dozens of watch magazines in every bookstore. On the cover of at least half of them were photos of various PVD coated Rolexes!
Camfam,
Thanks for commenting. That’s pretty cool. I am almost suprised too, the Japanese seem very set on authenticity in their style (Barbour made in the UK, Red Wing made in the US, selvage Levis) that it’s interesting they like the customized Rolexes. Keep checking the site and participating in the comments!
Cheers,
Jon
I agree. It’s a ridiculously priced watch, but the fact that GP balances it with reviews of more affordable pieces (especially brands that you might not otherwise hear about, like BaHai for eg) makes it ok… I really like your balance of affordable and desirable. Thanks GP!
Gotta love the effort you put into this blog
I'm a fine watch professional seller, I work for the largest Rolex retailer company in latin america and the Caribbean area and I can tell all you "watch-guys" next:______Only dumbest people purchase a fine time piece at internet, even someone with a little brain get into the web expecting for a real priece, because mostly they're going to find amazing offers for fake pieces.__Now then, I can not imagine a proud Rolex Daytona owner (even a Submariner wich is cheaper) sendig his piece to these assholes to "customize it".
The satinless Daytona is $9925 usd (caribbean duty free priece) and you know "watch-guys" it is very hard to get it. Any other Daytona would be two tone(steel & 18 k gold), or solid gold (Yellow,white or
rose). Can someone be so stupid to add PVD on it?.
These kind of merchandise is for amateurs.
I carry almost 20 different swiss brands and being honest I really do not like Rolex, but the 40% of my incomes are thanks to the little crown.