SEIKO x Bamford makes a limited-edition dive watch for everyone.
The Bamfordwatchdepartment.com is a dive watch descended from the Seiko 6309 and 7002 lines that date to 1976. The 6309 ended production in 1988, 37 years ago. This new beast, however, is a throwback to those super cool and super colorful days of Seiko’s past.
Bamford has long modified Swiss watches, from TAG Heuer to Girard-Perregaux. The approach is consistent: start with a manufacturer’s case and dial design, then tweak materials, colors, and details so the watch becomes something new without losing the character that made the original appealing.
On other projects, George Bamford might PVD a case in black and add a dripping-paint dial, or create a pilot’s watch with heavy lume. What sets Bamford apart is knowing when to push and when to hold back, and why.
On the SBAS315, Seiko’s classic case lineage, 6309, 7002, SKX007, meets a transparent blue dial. The dial is a clear blue disc that lets you see the 4R36’s day and date wheels under the surface.
The blue dial, the orange accents at the top of the bezel insert, and the black bezel base all tie neatly to the black, blue, and orange fabric strap. The strap keepers are engraved “BAMFORD,” matching the Bamford name on the dial.
The Seiko SBAS315 is not trying to be unique for its own sake. It is 42.5 mm in diameter, on the larger side. Thickness is 14.2 mm, not small. For reference, a Rolex dive watch sits around 12 mm, and the old NTH microbrand made divers near 11.5 mm. The Seiko x Bamford wears large, tall, and bold. If that is your preference, this hits the brief.
Seiko does not pitch an arboretum or botanical-garden story here, but the analogy fits. Imagine a well-curated garden where familiar species are selected and refined for how they look and thrive together. This Seiko x Bamford feels like that, a proven Seiko case with Bamford’s flavor layered on top, creating something recognizably Seiko that still stands apart from other dive watches.
It is also a strong value. A typical Seiko 5 comes in around $450. This collaboration is about $460. You get the fabric strap instead of a bracelet, but if this is the look you want, that trade makes sense.
Bamford has always modified dials and cases for Swiss watches, from Tag Heuer to Girard-Perregaux. Bamford takes an existing case and dial design from a manufacturer, so that the watch becomes something new, without losing the tradition that made the original watch unique.
For other watches, George Bamford would try to change a watch into a PVD black case with a dripping paint dial, or make a pilot’s watch for a fighter with huge amounts of lume all over. But what makes Bamford differently is knowing when to make, and why.
Pricing & Availability
Price: $460
Availability: Seiko Boutique Exclusive, starting November 2025 in the United States
Limited Edition: Yes, 2,025 pieces