Latest from Bamford

hey, this is nice!

..and I’m looking forward to seeing the final watch that this goes into

And while I’m flipping through their IG account, quite like this too

That Autavia dial doesn't look right to me. The exterior of the watch is clearly quality with what looks like a ceramic bezel. But the dial makes it look fake.

I was just about to start a thread titled "
"I'm conflicted"
When I saw this post.
I'm so confused by it all. While in Melbourne this last week, I stopped by the TH Boutique just to see if any interesting was on show.
Well... it was, in the guise of the Black Bamford Carbon Tag Heuer Monaco.
Now, I've been a bit vocal about the relationship which has been struck up between TH and Bamford.
To me it felt a bit like having a crush on your Cousin.... there were some nice things to look at but you just didn't want to go there.

I should have just Snared at the Bamford Monaco in that shiny glass case and grumbled to myself what a shame it is and "how dare they".
Trouble is, I was drawn to it... Why, because it was a sanctioned TH Monaco which has been suped up with the blessing of TH and was for sale in their store. It was also not a one off abomination that Bamford is known for at times. There were 500 of these to be made and that made all the difference to me, plus it was a dam fine looking watch. I am partial to that shade of blue, and with the carbon swirling case and beautiful touch of the Heuer logo in blue on the crown won me over. Not quite enough for me to part with my money as I still had a slight feeling that this should not be the way that TH should go. But what do I know, it fits Bivers vision of listening to the young people and brining them what they want. I don't know if this will work, but it's a plan and while they stick to it we will be in for an interesting ride.

Pre orders happening for it know at your local Boutique ..I think the price was around $10,500 AUD.

Oh and I'm still conflicted....

I like what they did with Tag Heuer more than what they did with other brands.

I still don't like the price more than anything though

I love the 'sanctioned' Bamford Monaco but most of their customs not so much. These two are perfect examples of the ones I really dislike. Just like a pure Porsche enthusiast will be disgusted by what Singer and Walker are doing with those classics. At the same time it's hard to exaggerate their importance for Porsche's appeal with a very large number of enthusiasts. So I suppose iconic brands can thrive in several directions at the same time. How Bamford weighs up to Singer or Walker is up for debate though. Although very posh I wouldn't classify Bamford under 'cool'. Word is Walker is working on a Porsche Design watch...

That car looks like a Jaguar XK120 to me (bumpers and rump are different on 140 and 150) so an SE for the Jaguar Driver's Club?

I like that green so make the gold into yellow and have a Team Lotus edition with a Type 33 car?

Yeah, I can totally see what you mean... and the problem is if the fakers start putting Bamford on the dial how the hell are we going to know?

Yes, the question of originality will be a challenge.

I like these more bespoke designs- modding colours is one thing, but designing a completely new take on the dials is impressive. I've been in semi-regular contact with George and can tell you that he has some very cool stuff coming...quite different to the first phase of watches.

Here is that Monaco dial cased up.

Let's get some Carrera chronographs in there!

David, for me this is where it gets very confusing and grey.
Are these sanctioned Tag Heuer pieces to go to market and be sold in boutiques, or are they one of examples of original custom jobs done for customers as I presume they are.
If Bamford was just a design house, specialising in designing limited editions for major watch companies then I would be less worried.🤔
Major watch houses further blurring the watch market which is already full of fakes is a dangerous place to go IMHO.

Yes, they're custom watches. In fact, the silver dial Autavia is one that George has designed for himself.

At this stage, the only "official" Bamford watch is the Monaco, which has its own reference number. The rest use the standard reference number for that particular model.

After seeing this, does anyone also agree that Bamford works better with TH than any other brands out there ?

I say Bamford customising watches for clients who have the money and the need to "trick up" their watches is fine and good.
Tag Heuer finding a partner to produce small batch limited edition and unique designed watches is great. I'm all for that.
Combining the two is where it gets tricky for me, no matter if it is Tag Heuer, Rolex, Omega or anyone else in the major watch industry.
So to answer your question, I don't think one brand works better than any other with a marriage to Bamford.

This morning I watched the press conference with Mr Biver and Bamford at the launch of the Blue Dial Monaco. I understand better the idea behind this collaboration, I just think they picked the wrong partner.
I must say though, Mr Bamford looks like a boy who has just had all his Christmases at once. I probably would too given that chance.

The Bamford TAGs are generally better than the Rolexes certainly.

Going back to the issue of fakery, I guess if it's going to hurt anyone it's going to be the original purchaser, since when they are trying to sell they will find it challenging. But then if you can afford to pay way over the odds for a personlised watch then maybe that won't be such an issue for you... a watchmaker should still be able to tell if it's a genuine TAG, but I guess it will be a case of Bamford having to verify if the dial is theirs. I guess it wouldn't matter so much if it wasn't that they are the 'official' partner as that will have a significant effect on the value, rather than if someone else replaced the dial - however well that was done.

Perhaps in the future Bamford will offer a service where they re-sell pre-owned Bamfords? Much like MB&F are now doing.

Another picture.

I'm not convinced whether all these one offs are going to help TH. The brand is really starting to lose me with this stuff and the mutant Carreras.

That Monaco is lurid too.