I also would love to know that. The screen which is being replaced as part of the service before its sent to me was badly scored. Perhaps a sign if its useage in a rally car or underneath it! I know its not Hannu Mikkolas as he still has his, but maybe Rohrl, Mouton, Blomqvist, or Co drivers. It'll hold a mystery to me for sure. I will try and find out if previous owners can be traced. There are no papers or box accompanying it which also might indicate it was one of the watches given to the drivers themselves, as why would they keep a box. The fact its the rarer variant of the two makes the probability high indeed.
To be fair the Bamford is not a bad looking piece. And I imagine ‘in the flesh’ it has more depth to the design adjustments than the photos do justice.
The deployant strap looks nice with a carbon finish clasp. Big step up from the standard Tag tin and strap.
I've changed my mind. Knowing there's a likely possibility of the Audi Sport being owned by an actual Group B racing driver changes everything. I'd keep the Audi Sport, with the hope of one day being able to sleuth out the origin of the watch.
The two watches are really so different, it's hard to compare. Love it or hate it, the Bamford gives a very unique visual statement that's sure to attract attention. Most won't even notice the Audi watch on your wrist or know of its vintage motorsport heritage (I didn't, just thought it was a marketing thing, like the Senna or Aston Martin watches). But for an Audi enthusiast/racing fan, the Sport Lemania is the one to have!
Spot on. If you know, you know kinda thing, and that is cooler than anything flashy.
Here is another Monaco that is a collaboration between BWD and Vintage Heuer, which is actually rather nice:
https://www.vintageheuer.com/products/tag-heuer-monaco-bamfordvintageheuer-com-11/
Shame about the tacky ‘checkerboard/grid flag’ graphics. The strap and most if the dial is quite nice. Personally I’d rather that the hands matched the stitching on the strap.
I think I have figured out the issue (in my mind at least), with many of these BWD frankenwatches, the outer dial (seconds markers) being circular and very flat rather than applied, only work in contrast to the square case in a limited range of colour matched pairings. Few stark contrasts work well. It is those with a better balance of gradiation or subtle contrast which work - and TH already produced those. Few of the BWD options compare. Maybe they should have a go with the Carerra Cal 17 as that has more depth to the watch face to play with. Monaco’s dial is not the best. It is the square case novelty that makes it. So within the case, subtly and co-ordination is the key - not bold contrast. Which works a lot better aesthetically on the Carrera. Tis what they’d need to to get my money anyway. So far I’d rather buy a stock watch and burn the difference!
To add: i’d also prefer if the Bamford logo was on the caseback. IT is horologically meaningless. I’ve a (personal) distaste for any brandingnon a watch face other than the ‘core’ maker. There’s far too much writing on the dial, and the logo is meaningless. AMG don’t put their sig on the bonnet. Only the arse end.
OMO.
I don't mind the chequered flags and Vintage Heuer explains why they are there.
With the BWD configurator you can choose to remove the BAMFORD test from the dial by just specifying no text. It is certainly what I would do if I were to ever go down that route (which is highly unlikely).
Both are nice in different ways. Only one is special, has a real history and can’t really be recreated. The other can be recreated quite easily upon request.
Shame about the tacky ‘checkerboard/grid flag’ graphics. The strap and most if the dial is quite nice. Personally I’d rather that the hands matched the stitching on the strap.
I think I have figured out the issue (in my mind at least), with many of these BWD frankenwatches, the outer dial (seconds markers) being circular and very flat rather than applied, only work in contrast to the square case in a limited range of colour matched pairings. Few stark contrasts work well. It is those with a better balance of gradiation or subtle contrast which work - and TH already produced those. Few of the BWD options compare. Maybe they should have a go with the Carerra Cal 17 as that has more depth to the watch face to play with. Monaco’s dial is not the best. It is the square case novelty that makes it. So within the case, subtly and co-ordination is the key - not bold contrast. Which works a lot better aesthetically on the Carrera. Tis what they’d need to to get my money anyway. So far I’d rather buy a stock watch and burn the difference!
To add: i’d also prefer if the Bamford logo was on the caseback. IT is horologically meaningless. I’ve a (personal) distaste for any brandingnon a watch face other than the ‘core’ maker. There’s far too much writing on the dial, and the logo is meaningless. AMG don’t put their sig on the bonnet. Only the arse end.
OMO.
Can you share the article on the Audi sport?
Tough choice. Really tough choice.
But if it was me, i would go for Monaco Bamford.
Cheers.
https://timeandtidewatches.com/list-5-watches-with-investment-potential-and-the-car-to-match/
Found this article on T&T today. Noticed the audi reference. The watch linked seems quite tenuous. Surprised they did not refer to this Heuer instead.
