Bamford Watch Department & Black Badger unveil their latest collaboration. The BWD X Badgerworks TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 with Tropical Coffee Dial. Limited Edition of 20 unique pieces.
Press Release with additional exclusive information and commentary in italics
BWD X Badgerworks TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 with Tropical Coffee Dial
There is a real fascination amongst collectors of vintage watches when it comes to the tropical dials formed by irregularly faded dials. These start out in production as black, and turn a dark shade of chocolate brown when exposed to sunlight over many years.
These tropical dials are sought after, and as such we wanted to create our own tropical dial. Each dial has its own unique character. The idea to create this using a recycled source was so irresistible, and that’s how the dial, which is made from ground coffee was conceptualised.
Exclusive info and photographs
James Thompson shared with us exclusive inside information on how the dials are made. The coffee is ground, but not used in any extraction as any moisture will wreck havoc in the dial later. The coffee is actual grinds from Da Matteo, a cafe local to James in in Göteborg, Sweden which is a cafe ranked in the top 5 worldwide by Lonely Planet guidebook. These are from beans which are roasted in the shop from Brazilian / Ethiopian Arabica beans, and typically available to be brewed as coffee in the shop.
The grounds are then encapsulated in a resin and made into square plates as dial blanks and hand finished to bring out the natural lustre and colours of the material when cut into shape for the dial.
Bamford Watch Dept X Badgerworks TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 with Tropical Coffee Dial
“It’s amazing to be working with the awesome James Thompson at Black Badger on our second collaboration. I’ve always wanted to create a wonderful tropical dial but in a modern way, and I think this recycled coffee dial really has an authentic tropical vibe to it. Accentuated inside the Carrera watch this really works well together”.
George Bamford, Founder of Bamford Watch Department
“For me this is a natural progression for the BWD Badgerworks project. In the same way that we previously used the Fordite material, we are exploring materials outside of the traditional realm of watchmaking”.
James Thompson, AKA Black Badger
James continues, “Few materials are as familiar both in appearance and experience as coffee. Economies are built on it, wars are fought over it, history is tied to it. As a planet over 2 billion cups are consumed every day.
For this BWD Badgerworks project, we have manufactured the dials of our watches from coffee itself. One can almost smell the roast and hear the cafe chatter when looking at it !”
BWD X Badgerworks TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 5 with Tropical Coffee Dial Technical information
Model: Carrera Calibre 5.
Type: Automatic Watch
Movement: Tag Heuer Calibre 5 *Sellita SW-220-1)
Power Reserve: 38 Hours.
Case Material: Stainless Steel finished with light grey Military Grade Titanium Coating (MGTC)
Case Diameter: 41mm.
Case Thickness: 13.45mm
Case Back: Stainless Steel with Sapphire Display back.
Water Resistant: 10ATM – 100m.
Available from Bamford Watch Department
Price: £5,500. Limited to 20 unique pieces
