The Bamford Watch Department is a controversial subject in watch collecting circles. Some people love the idea of taking a brand new, modern watch (usually a Rolex) and putting their own twist on it, whether that means colored coatings, different dial configurations, or complex engravings. Others hate the idea of altering a perfectly good watch on principle. Today though, for the very first time, a Swiss watch brand itself is placing itself squarely in the first camp ?Zenith has made Bamford the brand's officially authorized customizer.
"Officially authorized customizer" could mean a number of things, so what exactly are we looking at here? Well, basically you can start with a number of base Zenith watch models ?including multiple pilot's chronographs as shown in the images here ?and change the looks while keeping the technical components of the watch the same. Whether you want something that's all blacked out or something with pops of Bamford's signature aqua blue or other bright colors, you can experiment with the online customization tool on Bamford's website. There are also pre-configured models that you'll be able to buy from Bamford's own retailers, which include Colette in Paris and Dover Street Market in London, Tokyo, and New York.
ADVERTISEMENTThis is a new chapter and one of the most significant steps we have taken as a business. It is amazing not only to gain such a strong foothold in the Swiss watchmaking fraternity, but also to receive such a wonderful validation of our overall customization concept.
?George Bamford, Bamford Watch Department FounderIn addition to offering a nice little stamp of approval, this new arrangement has real tangible benefits for consumers as well. In other cases, the moment the Bamford team begins customizing a watch for you, its manufacture warranties are all voided and the original brand will refuse to service or handle the product again. Here, Zenith still considers your watch an authentic Zenith, keeping all the warranties intact, and Bamford can work hand-in-hand with Zenith to make sure your watch works wonderfully forever.
This certainly isn't a piece of news I expected to see ?traditionally, the watch industry hasn't taken too nicely to those customizing pieces ?but it's something that made me happy. While a customized Zenith (or Rolex, or Patek, or AP) might not be for everyone, it's good to see a storied brand letting its hair down and loosening up a bit. This is the very first time that a major Swiss brand has authorized anything like this at scale. What Bamford does, they do at an extremely high level of quality, so why not let people have a little fun?
Prices for the watches range depending on the base model and the type of customization being executed, but start around £8,500 (approximately $11,050 at time of publishing). You can explore all the options by visiting the Bamford Watch Department online.
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