Bamford Watch Department
London, United Kingdom · Est. 2004
Founded by George Bamford
Bamford Watch Department, founded in London in 2004 by George Bamford, is one of the world's most recognised watch customisation ateliers. The brand modifies watches from leading Swiss manufacturers — particularly Rolex and TAG Heuer — applying custom coatings, dials, and components.
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- London, United Kingdom
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- GMT — In-house designed GMT watches with Bamford's signature bold colour schemes and DLC-coated cases.
- B347 — Bamford B347 is the brand's Swiss-made automatic monopusher chronograph family, spanning titanium and forged-carbon variants with bold colorways and Sellita SW510-based chronograph architecture. Key references: Bianco Nero B347, Titanium B347 Claret/White, Carbon B347 Predator.
- Custom Rolex/TAG Heuer (2003) — Bamford’s custom Rolex and TAG Heuer work is the brand’s core personalization lane: bespoke color, finish, and material treatments applied to luxury watches, historically rooted in Rolex customization and later formalized through TAG Heuer authorization. Key references: TAG Heuer Autavia Automatic, TAG Heuer Monaco Chronograph, TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph.
Timeline
- 2004 — George Bamford founds Bamford Watch Department in London, pioneering luxury watch customisation.
- 2017 — Official partnership with TAG Heuer, making Bamford an authorised customiser — a first in the industry.
- 2019 — LVMH acquires a minority stake, validating the customisation business model.
- 2021 — Launches own-brand watches (B347, GMT) alongside the customisation service.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bamford Watch Department
- Does Bamford customisation void the manufacturer's warranty?
- For official partners like TAG Heuer and Zenith, Bamford is an authorised customiser so the warranty is maintained. For other brands, the original warranty may be affected.
- Can I send my own watch to Bamford?
- Yes, Bamford accepts personal watches for customisation including DLC coating, dial changes, and strap modifications.