We all opt for our things about which to be unreasonably doctrinaire in this world. Some people are intolerant of date windows, but other Tag Heuer Replica are intolerant of anything over 38mm in diameter and some people are intolerant of non-in-house movements, and on and on. I’ve always been intolerant of so-called “modded watches,” and I have no idea of the reason. Maybe it’s the closet museum conservator in me, but I hate the idea of taking a finished replica watch as the starting point for important cosmetic modifications. I would never say anything about their replica watches, but that doesn’t keep me from privately deploring it when it happens.
In October of last year we heard some funny news, which was that Bamford had become the authorized customization partner of replica TAG Heuer. This came just shortly after Zenith announced that Bamford was its official customization partner as well, in June.
However, the relationship seems to make the entire thing more plausible and we had an opportunity to look at one of the first collaboration models from the fake TAG Heuer and Bamford, which is the TAG Heuer Bamford Monaco.
Surprisingly, up close and personal, I liked the watch at once. From a design standpoint it really came together for me – now, this kind of approach to watch design is always going to be polarizing and I’m sure this take on a Monaco will rub some of us the wrong way, but for lack of a better word, I thought it looked amazing. I think the size might have something to do with it; this is a 39mm wristwatch and it seems to wear its carbon case very naturally. In terms of dial layout, position of the pushers and crown, and so on, it’s a typical Monaco, solidly rooted in the original caliber 11 model from 1969.
I think part of the reason this take on the Monaco seems to work so well is that the original design is not particularly conservative either – the Monaco has always been a slightly aggressive-feeling, very design-forward watch. Seeing it in a carbon case, and with the vivid “aquablue” and black dial, and matching date display, doesn’t feel like something grafted on; on the contrary, it feels like a natural extension of the real design.
It’s quite comfortable to wear and again, it was a very pleasant surprise to see how instantly at home on the wrist it seemed.