“It symbolises energy and adventure,” says George Bamford, describing the bright, flame-like orange tone that has become a signature flourish of the Bamford Watch Department, his London-based personalisation business. It was when working on his second team-up with Swiss heritage make TAG Heuer that Bamford singled out the colour as a symbol of energetic exploration and a certain “go forth” spirit.
Issued this winter as a limited edition of just 1,500 models, the TAG Heuer Aquaracer Bamford Limited Edition with 43mm case is crafted from matt-finish grade 2 titanium. Favoured for its lightweight and robust, corrosion-resistant properties, grade 2 titanium is a hard wearing metal; in addition to watchmaking, it’s use can be traced in aeronautics and the production of sports equipment. A jet-black dial – emblazoned with both brand's insignias – is matched with orange lacquered, black-gold-plated hands; both hands and indexes are treated with white Super-LumiNova®, a practical finish that allows for optimum legibility.
“[This] is the ultimate tool watch and from diving equipment to climbing carabiners and rope, the colour orange always pops up so it seemed the perfect choice for this go-anywhere, do-anything watch.”
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There are nods to TAG Heuer’s heritage too: Bamford researched the brand’s biography in its company archives and his modern take on one of its emblematic creations borrows choice details from historic models. There’s the shape of the indexes, which nod to a 1979 TAG Heuer stopwatch and the orange tone, too has TAG Heuer lineage: it can be spotted in museum pieces such as the Heuer calculator.
“The orange design elements and sporty bezel are reminiscent of TAG Heuer pieces that were launched between 1979 and 1994 such as the first racing stopwatch which has orange minute markers and the calculator which has orange elements,” he explains. “All paved the way for the Aquaracer collection and it is this history which inspired me.”
£3,250; bamfordwatchdepartment.com
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