Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian Dive Watch
Starting from 1.700 €The Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian is a dual time zone travel watch that pairs the London house's bold styling with Swiss mechanics. Its name comes from the red and green internal rotating bezel sitting over a black dial, a chromatic nod that gives it strong wrist presence. Driven by a Swiss automatic movement with a central 24 hour hand, it lets you read a second time zone at a glance. Water resistant to 100 metres and offered on a steel bracelet or rubber strap, it is aimed at travellers, pilot's watch enthusiasts, and anyone after an original, individually numbered GMT piece, at an indicative price of €1,700.
Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian pilot's watch
Bamford London grew out of the Bamford Watch Department, founded in 2009 by George Bamford. The house first made its name customising iconic watches, eventually becoming the official customisation partner for the watchmaking brands of the LVMH group. Building on that expertise, it went on to develop its own collections, designed in its London studio and sold from its boutique at 80 South Audley Street, in the heart of Mayfair.
The GMT holds a particular place in that journey. Unveiled in November 2018 as the London GMT, it was the house's second watch after the quartz Mayfair of 2017, and more importantly the first Bamford powered by a Swiss mechanical movement. Its semi-cushion case draws on the 1970s, while its internal rotating bezel, controlled by a second crown at 10 o'clock, signals a clear focus on travel. Since launch, the model has evolved: the original movement has given way to a more enduring version, offering a markedly longer power reserve.
The Italian version takes its name from the pairing of a red and green internal bezel with a black dial. It sits within the GMT range alongside titanium and forged carbon versions, as well as a Neon edition. Without claiming dive watch status, it stands as a traveller's tool watch with unapologetic graphic character, carrying forward the creative, uninhibited spirit of the London house.
Technical specifications Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian
- Brand: Bamford London
- Model: GMT Steel - Italian
- Reference: GMT-SS-ITALIAN
- Indicative price: 1,700€
- Movement: Swiss automatic GMT
- Calibre: Sellita SW330-2
- Diameter: 40 mm
- Thickness: 11.7 mm
- Water resistance: 100 m / 10 ATM
- Materials: 316L stainless steel
- Crystal: Anti-reflective sapphire
- Dial: Black, red and green internal rotating bezel
- Strap: Steel, black or green rubber
- Warranty: Up to 3 years
- Box contents: Bamford case
The Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian travel watch
The Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian follows the architecture of the house GMT, a watch designed for those who split their time between two time zones. Its 316L stainless steel case measures 40 mm in diameter, a versatile size that suits most wrists while retaining a confident presence without tipping into excess. The semi-cushion shape, inherited from the 1970s, softens the lines and gives the model a slightly retro silhouette. What strikes you first is the chromatic contrast. The black dial serves as a backdrop to a red and green internal rotating bezel, the source of the Italian nickname.
Graduated over 24 hours, this bezel is integrated into the case and works with the central second time zone hand to display a time other than that of your current location. It is set via a second crown at 10 o'clock, separate from the main crown. The whole is topped with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, which guards against scratches and ensures good legibility under the shifting lighting of airport terminals or aircraft cabins. Each example also carries an individual serial number engraved on the caseback, a detail that makes every watch identifiable and personal. With its balance of travel functionality and a strongly marked visual identity, this GMT finds a natural place among contemporary pilot's watches with real character.
Swiss mechanics and travel comfort
Beneath the steel caseback beats the Sellita SW330-2 calibre, a Swiss automatic movement with 25 jewels running at 28,800 vibrations per hour. It offers a 56 hour power reserve, enough to set the watch aside for a weekend without finding it stopped. The date at 3 o'clock features quick-set correction, handy after a long flight. The second time zone is shown via a central 24 hour hand, letting you keep track of home time or a contact's time zone. On the black dial, the two-tone bezel and this hand are easy to read at a glance. On the comfort side, the 11.7 mm thickness stays contained for an automatic GMT watch, and the 46.5 mm lug to lug remains reasonable on the wrist.
The 20 mm lug width opens up a wide choice of straps, beyond the three options offered as standard: steel, black rubber or Racing Green rubber. The 100 metre water resistance offers comfortable protection for daily wear and water-based leisure activities. That does not make this GMT a dive watch, however: no unidirectional diving bezel or diving standard is claimed. Its purpose lies elsewhere, in travel, reading two time zones, and a style that gets noticed. A watch with character for those who like to change time zones without changing watches.
Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian pilot's watch: travel in colour
The Bamford London GMT Steel - Italian combines a 40 mm 316L stainless steel case, 11.7 mm thick, with an anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Its black dial is surrounded by a red and green internal rotating bezel graduated over 24 hours, set via a crown at 10 o'clock. The Swiss automatic Sellita SW330-2 calibre provides 56 hours of power reserve, a date at 3 o'clock, and a second time zone display via a central hand. Water resistant to 100 metres, the watch is worn on a steel, black rubber or green rubber strap, and comes with a two-year warranty extendable by one more year.
Movement
The GMT Steel - Italian is powered by the Swiss automatic Sellita SW330-2 calibre, fitted with 25 jewels and beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour. Its 56 hour power reserve marks a clear improvement over the 42 hour SW330-1 that equipped the model at its 2018 launch. The movement handles the time, the date at 3 o'clock with quick-set correction, and a second time zone via a central 24 hour hand, the main asset of this travel watch for tracking two time zones at once.
Diameter and materials
The semi-cushion case is made from 316L stainless steel, as is the caseback, which carries each example's individual serial number. It measures 40 mm in diameter with an 11.7 mm thickness, a 20 mm lug width and a 46.5 mm lug to lug length. The black dial is protected by an anti-reflective sapphire crystal, and the red and green internal rotating bezel, the source of the Italian name, completes a sober and coherent construction.
Water resistance
The watch offers 100 m / 10 ATM water resistance, enough for daily life, travel and leisure time by the water. Its internal rotating bezel, set within the case and operated by a crown at 10 o'clock, is used for the second time zone rather than timing a dive. No unidirectional diving bezel or diving standard is claimed: the GMT Steel - Italian remains a versatile travel watch rather than an instrument intended for underwater diving.
Accessories
Three strap options are offered at the same price: a steel bracelet, a black rubber strap or a Racing Green rubber strap. The 20 mm lug width also opens the door to other straps of the same width for varying styles, from formal wear to weekends. Each example is distinguished by an individual serial number engraved on the caseback, giving this watch its own personal identity, reinforced by the range of strap choices available from the point of purchase.
Warranty
Bamford London backs the GMT Steel - Italian with a two-year international warranty. This cover can be extended by one year by registering the watch, bringing total protection to three years. A simple step worth taking upon receipt. For buyers located outside the United Kingdom, it is worth bearing in mind that local taxes and import duties may be added to the listed price. Comfortable cover for a watch built to travel.
Bamford London GMT Steel Italian The pros
and cons
- Swiss automatic Sellita SW330-2 calibre
- 56 hour power reserve
- Second time zone via central hand
- Very original two-tone internal bezel
- Versatile 40 mm diameter
- Water resistance limited to 100 metres
- No unidirectional diving bezel
- Very bold two-tone style
- Off-the-shelf, not in-house movement
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