Bamford Watches

Bamford Watches

Bamford is what happens when you take a Rolex, a bottle of matte black paint, and a rebellious streak, then turn it into a luxury design studio.

What started as the underground king of watch mods is now a legit name in custom horology and brand collabs — with an aesthetic that blends British cool, stealth luxury

and creative edge.

A Little History

George Bamford launched Bamford Watch Department (BWD) in the early 2000s by doing something most watch lovers wouldn’t dare: modding Rolexes. Full DLC coatings

colorful dials, stealth date wheels — nothing was sacred.

At first, it ruffled feathers. Then it caught fire.

Collectors, celebrities, and even major brands took notice. In 2017, BWD officially became the authorized customization partner for TAG Heuer, Zenith, and Bulgari

shifting from rogue modder to official collaborator.

Since then, Bamford has expanded into its own line of watches, plus a steady stream of limited editions, collabs, and design experiments that always bring a fresh

take on luxury tool watches.

What Collectors Love

Bamford is about personal expression, playful design, and boutique cool. You’ll see:

  • Matte cases — DLC or titanium with stealth appeal

  • Contrasting dial elements — often in aqua blue, yellow, or red

  • Reworked indices, date windows, or handset shapes

  • Limited edition collabs — with brands like Popeye, Snoopy, Peanuts, Fragment, G-Shock, and even The Good Life

Signature series include:

  • Bamford GMT — bold, lightweight, and powered by a Swiss Sellita movement. GMT hand, date, and color-blocked bezels

  • Bamford Mayfair — quartz daily beater with high-design flair; originally a loaner piece, now a core line

  • BWD Custom Rolex / AP / Patek — still floating around on the secondary market, often with controversial resale values

  • Bamford × G-Shock / TAG / Franck Muller / Zenith — officially sanctioned co-branded pieces with big cult followings

Why Bamford Deserves a Spot

Because they pioneered the modern luxury watch mod scene — and then flipped the script by getting official.

Plenty of microbrands riff on classic designs. Bamford took iconic pieces, disrupted them, and then got invited to the table. Whether you love the aesthetic or not, it takes

guts to go from aftermarket outlaw to design house trusted by LVMH.

Plus, their in-house pieces — especially the GMT — are fun, wearable, and well-built, often with unique dials and cases you won’t see anywhere else.

What’s Out There Now

Bamford’s catalog moves fast — most releases are limited runs or collabs, but staples include:

  • GMT — 40mm, titanium, automatic, 100m WR, bold dial and bezel variants

  • Mayfair Sport — quartz, 40mm, colorful, and meant to be worn hard

  • London Limited Editions — city-specific drops with graphic dials and themed packaging

  • Bamford × Collabs — from G-Shock to Popeye, with heavy collector demand

Pricing:

  • In-house Bamford pieces — ~$500 (Mayfair) to ~$1,500–$2,000 (GMT)

  • Collabs with Zenith/TAG — $5,000–$10,000+

  • Custom Rolex/Patek mods — widely variable on the secondary market

Fed’s Take

Bamford made watch mods cool before the industry was ready for it.

I’ve handled a bunch — including early blacked-out Subs and modern Bamford x G-Shocks — and they always start a conversation. The fit and finish on the GMTs is surprisingly

tight. And their collabs? Pure fun, without feeling gimmicky.

If you’re looking for an affordable flex with boutique energy, or just want something that doesn’t take itself too seriously, Bamford is a great pickup.

Check Out Our Bamford Inventory

Delray Watch is always on the lookout for unique Bamford watches — especially GMTs, Mayfair Sports, and collabs with Zenith, TAG, or G-Shock.

Be the first to know when new Bamford watches are available - subscribe for insider access here.