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Up yours! From Bamford and seconde/seconde/, with love

Up yours! From Bamford and seconde/seconde/, with love

Borna Bošnjak

A collaboration between Bamford and Romaric André of seconde/seconde/ feels just perfect, doesn’t it? Bamford made a name for himself by “vandalising” sought-after Rolex models in his signature aqua and black, while seconde/seconde/is renowned for subverting the smallest details of a watch in the most irreverent way possible. Now the pair have finally come together to create the Bad Form GMT. “Bad form”, in case you’re wondering, is a smart-arse anagram of “Bamford” and the sentiment is hammered home with Churchill’s V-sign – a graphic so cheeky that it may as well be mooning you.

When brainstorming the design brief, George Bamford stated “nothing is off the table” and that he “wanted to have some fun”. And clearly, fun they did have. Dark green is a colour that often holds connotations of privilege, wealth and authority, but here it becomes the backdrop for a more punk-rock take on the regular Bamford GMT. The first modification is the “Bamford” / “bad form” switcheroo, while the second more notable change is the V-sign defiantly sitting on top of the hand stack.

bamford seconde/seconde/

The rest of the case is a familiar Bamford GMT affair, reminiscent of 1960s Zenith models with the semi-guarded crown at 10 o’clock for GMT bezel adjustment, and a traditional crown at 3 o’clock. With hairline brushing throughout the 40mm case, the finishing is very simple and does not detract from the main event. At 11.7mm in height and with 100 metres of water resistance, it’s got just enough sporty appeal for a funky everyday piece. Fortunately, the watch is paired with a colour-matched green cordura strap, rather than the tattered NATO shown above.

bamford seconde/seconde/

Finally, the Bad Form GMT is powered by a Sellita SW330-2 movement, a 25-jewel, high beat Swiss movement with 56 hours of power reserve – an upgrade over the 42 hours seen in other Bamford GMT models. This caller GMT calibre is a part of the Sellita SW3XX line-up, which are in turn based on the ETA 2892. It’s seen plentiful use across microbrands and big box brands alike, and is a reasonable choice for this scenario.

seconde/seconde/ edition Bamford London Bad Form GMT pricing and availability:

bamford seconde/seconde/

The “Bad Form” GMT will be available from Bamford London in a limited run of 50 pieces. Price: £1,600 inc VAT

Brand Bamford London
Model edition seconde/seconde/ Bad Form GMT
Case Dimensions 40mm x 11.7mm
Case Material Stainless steel
Water Resistance 100 metres
Crystal(s) Sapphire crystal with AR coating
Dial British racing green
Strap Green cordura strap with white stitching and pin buckle
Movement Sellita SW330-2, automatic, caller GMT, 56-hour power reserve
Price £1,600 inc VAT