A diver's watch that shows off the craftsman's sense of style. A harsh review of the Bamford D-300.

In this series, the editorial staff of Chronos Japan gives their impressions and discusses popular models. This time, we'll be taking a free and honest look at Bamford's D 300 diver's watch. Despite costing just under ¥300,000, the watch boasts a ceramic case and 300m water resistance, showcasing the refined aesthetic of the company's custom-made watches.

Bamford started out with custom watches

HosodaThe watch I'll be reviewing today is the Bamford D-300 diver's watch. The official name of the brand is Bamford Watch Department, and it was founded in 2003 by British designer George Bamford. He originally customized watches, but his excellent taste has earned him recognition from other brands, and in recent years he has begun releasing official collaboration models with Bamford.

(I.e.Black Rolexes are quite popular.

HosodaYes. That was the starting point, and TAG Heuer collaborated with them on the "TAG Heuer Monaco" from an early stage, and more recently they have collaborated with Chopard and Girard-Perregaux. However, Bamford's official website still sells custom watches in addition to the official collaboration models. Since Bamford is a brand that has built good relationships with other brands, I don't think they are currently selling custom models on their own.

(I.e.In 2023, a collaboration watch between Tag Heuer and the racing team Team Ikuzawa and Bamford was released. I heard that the collaboration was the result of a strong connection between the daughter of former racing driver Toru Ikuzawa and Bamford himself. That's how you get the brand's intentions aligned.

HosodaBamford has a strong image of customization and collaboration, but they actually make original watches as well. To explain how I ended up borrowing this model, there was a collaboration watch between Bamford and Snoopy that I had wanted for a long time. Unfortunately, it was sold out and I couldn't buy it, but I heard from someone that George Bamford himself could buy it for me, and he was able to sell it to me. As a result, the PR team sent me this model, asking me to write an article about their impressions of the new model. Currently, they do not have a distributor in Japan, but you can generally purchase it from Japan through their online website.

It's great that it's under 30 yen and uses the stable Cal/ETA2824-2!

HosodaThe "D-300" is a diver's watch, and as its name suggests, it is water resistant to 300m. The case is made of ceramic, as the model name states, "Matte Black Ceramic." The strap is made of rubber.

(I.e.This has Selita inside, right?

HosodaInside is an ETA 2824-2.

(I.e.I see. I was surprised at how accurate it was.

HosodaLet's start by talking about the movement. The watch is equipped with the ETA 2824-2, a very conventional movement with a power reserve of approximately 38 hours. This movement is highly accurate when properly adjusted.

(I.e.That's right. Caliber ETA2824-2 has a long history. Its power reserve of approximately 38 hours is extremely short by today's standards, but it has a sense of stability as an automatic movement. When I actually wore it, the accuracy was ±0 seconds for the T24 and ±0 seconds for the T48. And the accuracy was incredible, at +4 seconds for the T72. Well, since it's an automatic movement, it winds up even while you're wearing it, but even so, it's still very accurate.

HosodaI have worn three diver's watches equipped with the 2824 movement, and all of them have been perfectly accurate after being serviced. This particular watch was sent via international mail, and I didn't think it had been properly adjusted, so its accuracy was surprising.

(I.e.It may sound strange to put it this way, but I think it's an ETA pump (equipped with an ETA as an ébauche), and it's amazing how accurate it can be. It's shocking.

HosodaI think he really has great basic physical strength.

(I.e.And the price isn't that high either.

HosodaThat's 1500 pounds. At the current exchange rate (as of June 2025), 1 pound is 196 yen, so the selling price is roughly 294,000 yen. The case is made of black ceramic, and it's equipped with an ETA automatic movement, so it's very strategically priced at under 300,000 yen.

Are you a bit concerned about the high center of gravity?

(I.e.However, even though it was made of ceramic, it was surprisingly heavy.

HosodaIt feels heavy when you wear it. The actual weight is 109g, so it's neither particularly light nor heavy.

(I.e.It's all about balance. I think it feels heavy because of the position of the center of gravity. It feels like my arms are being pulled a little, so I think the center of gravity is high.

HosodaI think the strap is also a factor. It's a thin, very soft rubber, so if it were thicker, the weight would be better distributed and it might feel less heavy.

(I.e.Also, at this price, even though it's a ceramic case, it comes with an inner case, right?

HosodaThe spec sheet says it has an inner titanium core.

(I.e.The case back is titanium, so if it's screwed together, that's impressive for the price, as titanium can get stuck together.

HosodaThe titanium parts that come into contact with the skin are great for being hypoallergenic, making it a perfect summer watch.

big bridgeConsidering it's a summer watch, the strap is a concern. There are grooves on the back to let sweat escape, but there's no escape route, so it's easy for dirt to accumulate.

HosodaI also had quite a bit of water.

(I.e.I guess it can't be helped considering the price, but it seemed like they were being considerate, which actually made it worse.

HosodaIf dirt accumulates in these grooves, it won't come off even if you wipe it. It's a pretty tough strap. Well, since it's a diver's watch, if it gets dirty, you just wash it with lots of water.

(I.e.The strap detail is a bit lacking, but considering the price, I guess I can forgive it.

Bamford's signature bright blue is the perfect accent.

(I.e.And of course, the design is great. As expected from Bamford. The use of light blue is a Bamford signature.

HosodaThat's right. For example, the collaboration model with Tag Heuer Monaco, which we talked about earlier, has blue resin mixed into the carbon fiber, and I feel that blue is a strong image associated with Bamford. The D-300 also comes in a variety of colors, but the fact that the PR sent this model means that it must be their top recommendation.

(I.e.In terms of Rolex customization, it started with the all-black Daytona, so Bamford has always been synonymous with all-black, but recently they've also been known for adding refreshing sky blue accents. That's why this model is so Bamford-esque.

HosodaAlso, from a design perspective, the cushion case combined with the round bezel actually gives it a 70s vibe. The design itself has a slightly older feel to it, rather than the typical modern divers' style. However, it has a modern look with a good balance.

big bridgeIt's a cushion case, but what I like about it is that it doesn't emphasize the cushion too much.

HosodaIt's modern, isn't it? I think it's very good.

HosodaThe case diameter is 42mm, but because it's a cushion case and the lugs are extremely short, it doesn't feel as big as 42mm. The case is also 13mm thick, but the bezel is quite tall, so the thickness of the case itself doesn't feel that great. So, overall, it's hard to feel the size.

(I.e.It's quite thin for a 300m water resistance. Without the bezel it's under 10mm.

HosodaThe sides of the bezel are polished to give it a sharp look, and the design does not feel thick.

(I.e.On the other hand, the top of the bezel is matte and has grooves, so the finish is really good.

big bridgeI don't think there are many watches with concentric grooves on the bezel.

(I.e.Come to think of it, the comment about the high center of gravity earlier might be because the bezel is high, making the weight on the top heavier.

HosodaThe sapphire crystal is heavy, and the higher the sapphire is positioned, the more it disrupts the balance.

(I.e.Plus, the bezel is so thick, it leans a little too much towards the design, but for everyday use, I think it's fine as a design.

HosodaSpeaking of visibility, I honestly felt that the hands were a little too flat, but I guess that's to be expected since it's a price-matching watch.

(I.e.Well, except for the second hand, the watch is fully luminous. It's not three-dimensional, but you can still tell the time in the dark as long as it's luminous. Also, even when viewed in bright places, the contrast is good, so visibility is not bad.

HosodaHowever, the second hand also needs to be lit in order to check if the watch is working while diving (wry smile).

(I.e.I see (laughs), but overall it's a great watch.

Overall, a very competitive diving watch

HosodaOhashi-kun, in what situations would you wear this watch?

big bridgeThe design has a futuristic feel, so I would probably use it in the city. Mr. Hosoda, you also dive, so what do you think about using it in the ocean?

HosodaWith these specs, you'll be able to dive without any problems. Of course, you'll need to wear a dive computer. From a diver's perspective, the strap is long enough that it can be worn over a diving suit. The strap at 6 o'clock is longer for diving. These types of diver's rubber straps are usually made to a length suitable for everyday use, so you might need to attach an extension when diving. But with this, you can use it for both everyday use and diving with just one rubber stop. In that sense, it's extremely easy to use and excellent.

(I.e.I thought it was more of a fashion brand, but it's actually surprisingly well made.

HosodaI don't think many people actually dive, but the strap was designed with diving in mind. I think the strap isn't great in terms of supporting the head, but I really appreciate the fact that it's trying to be a diver's watch.

big bridgeBy the way, it's rare to find a ceramic mechanical watch that can be purchased for around 30 yen, right? The first thing that comes to mind is the Edox Neptunian, but... If you're looking for something a little more affordable, there's also the Seiko Prospex.

HosodaThat's where the D-300 stands out as a competitor. I think it's a very strong option for a diver's watch in the 30 yen range.

(I.e.Considering the price, they're probably using materials made in China.

HosodaIt has the Swiss Made label, so it meets the legal Swissness standard, which is over 60% based on price.

(I.e.It's hard to find a watch with an ETA 2824-2 movement, a ceramic exterior, and a titanium interior. Shipping and customs fees will be added, but you can buy it online. The specs are better than you'd expect, so I think it's great!