An unforeseen but justifiable partnership between two British watch manufacturers tempts our wrists late this evening with the launch of the Bremont S500 Bamford watch. The longstanding relationship between Nick and Giles English (the co-founders of Bremont) and George Bamford (the genius behind the Bamford Watch Department) finally comes to fruition as a 250-piece limited edition all-black Supermarine watch uniting a mix of both British House’s excellent manufacture.
If you’re reading this article, the chances of you being familiar with British watch manufacturer Bremont are already pretty high. Slightly less known in the luxury watch world however is the Bamford Watch Department. The company first began in 2003 when George Bamford attended a party in London sporting his new Rolex Daytona watch only to realise that many of the other men there wore the exact same one. Realising that nothing luxury was personal, he decided to start the Bamford Watch Department which would customise client’s timepieces with unique DLC coatings. The London-based brand became a sensation in the luxury watch world and even began designing several exclusive limited editions with other high-profile brands. It wasn’t long before George Bamford then launched his own inaugural collection of Bamford watches, one of which was the Bamford Mayfair Sport which we reviewed here.
Bamford’s most notable design traits include DLC coating and vibrant lume, two characteristics that make up much of the new Bremont S500 Bamford Limited Edition. These elements are placed centre stage of Bremont’s notoriously robust Supermarine S500 model, a design which was first introduced into the Bremont watch collections back in 2009 and now remains their flagship reference. For the 250-piece limited edition, the familiar 43mm Trip-Tick case construction is partnered with a stealthy black DLC treatment and paired with a matching black ceramic insert bezel with unidirectional functionality. The bezel has polished raised markers for the diving 60 minute scale and joins a screw in crown with protector and automatic helium escape valve for a 500 metre water resistance.
Bremont Co-Founder Nick English adds, “The S500 Supermarine is an icon of our brand and it’s been hugely exciting collaborating with George to produce this special edition. Projects such as this provide so much design inspiration and it’s been an incredibly natural process with George sharing so many of the same interests, from aviation to automobiles and vintage military timepieces. We’re proud to be pioneering a British watch collaboration of this sort and we’re equally as proud of the result, a watch that sublimely fuses the Bremont and Bamford design aesthetic.”
Contrasting handsomely against the DLC finish of the case is the dial which marks a first for both Bremont and Bamford with its contemporary California design. The combination of matte black hands, large Roman numerals and horizontal indexes are enhanced with ‘California Blue’ Superluminova which sit below the main plate of the dial on a second solid disc of luminous material. This technique allows for incredible lume performance and a stunning multi-layered finish. The dial of the Bremont S500 Bamford watch is protected by domed sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective treatment.
Continuing the black and blue aesthetic of the Bremont S500 Bamford Limited Edition is a sailcloth strap in black detailed with blue side stitching and a matching DLC coated stainless steel pin buckle. When the watch is off your wrist, you can admire the iconic case back which tributes Nick and Giles’ love of British aviation with the image of a Supermarine Seaplane. Housed behind the screw down case back is the Modified Calibre BE-36AE automatic winding movement which carries chronometer certification, a power reserve of 38 hours and delivers classic hours, minutes and seconds function.
George Bamford, founder of Bamford Watch Dept comments, “I have known Nick and Giles for a while now and we became firm friends when I was moving into my Mayfair ‘Hive’ office 7 years ago and they were parking a very cool Jaguar in a car park opposite. I always said we should do something together and this project feels so right. 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.”
If you’d like to learn more about the Bremont S500 Bamford watch and get your hands on one of the 250 limited edition pieces, head over to the Jura Watches website here. Alternatively, get in touch with the team by calling 01335 453453 or send us a message at help@jurawatches.co.uk.
Specifications:
- Case Size: 43mm
- Case Material: Stainless steel with black DLC treatment
- Bezel: Unidirectional with ceramic insert, raised 60 minute scale
- Glass: Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective treatment
- Crown: Screw in with crown protectors
- Case Back: Screw down with Supermarine engraving
- Water Resistance: 500 metres
- Movement: Modified Calibre 11 1/2’’ BE-36AE automatic
- COSC: Yes
- Functions: Hours, minutes, seconds
- Power Reserve: 38 hours
- Jewels: 26
- Frequency: 28,800vph
- Dial: Black California dial with blue-emission Superluminova hands and indexes
- Strap: Black sailcloth with blue side stitch
- Buckle: Pin, black DLC steel
- Limited Edition: 250 pieces
- RRP: £3,995
