INVEST

Bamford x Revolution, ZENITH Cronometro Tipo CP-2

In construction circles, the family name Bamford is best known for the excavation vehicles bearing the initials JCB. In horological circles, the name belongs to George Bamford, and it conjures images of a hyper-innovative maverick whose marvellously disruptive foray into the world of watches began when he decided to soup-up a Rolex Cosmograph Daytona he’d received for his 21st birthday using a “diamond-like carbon” process that rendered it an achingly cool kind of deep battleship grey. Around 25 friends requested — no, demanded — he metamorphose their timepieces in a similar fashion, and Bamford Watch Department was born.

Once to the watch world what Banksy is to the art world, Bamford was welcomed into the luxury watch establishment fold last summer, when he struck a deal with LVMH, and in particular its visionary watch division president, Jean-Claude Biver. From here on in, to the delight of those who like a watch’s aesthetic to be