Bamford Watch Department X Fragment Hiroshi Fujiwara Zenith El Primero

For as long as there have been products, there have been people wanted to bespoke them. Yet, for many collectors, watch modding has sort of been the final frontier in which the watchmaking brands themselves seem reticent if not outright hostile towards the whole practice of watch modding. As a result, an entire cottage industry including outfits like Bamford Watch Department have sprung up to provide watch mods and watch mod related services to watch collectors looking to make their timepiece a little more personal. 2017, LVMH watchmaking christened Bamford Watch Department the official customiser for LVMH brands, Zenith, TAG Heuer and BVLGARI, 2018 welcomes the first major collaboration on one of these iconic timepieces with Fragment.

Bamford Watch Department X Fragment Hiroshi Fujiwara Zenith El Primero

Hiroshi Fujiwara, the Godfather of Streetwear, and founder of Fragment countinues to lead the hautebeast charge in fine watchmaking with the Bamford Watch Department X Fragment Hiroshi Fujiwara Zenith El Primero. Best known for his Nike collab, the Air Trainer 1 and the Louis Vuitton X Fragment collaboration, a quintessentially Japanese vision of preppy American classics with collegiate-style lettering and outrageously luxe fabrications, Hiroshi turns his eye to one of the world’s most famous chronographs.

Fragment’s Hiroshi Fujiwara has designed a uniquely simple but stylishly striking design on a watch model which is a pillar of the watch community. The Zenith El Primero houses one of the oldest movements and whilst remaining in its original steel case and bracelet, the design on the dial is an extension of Fragment’s aesthetics using modern and vintage inspired techniques.

Its beating heart is the high frequency 36,000 VpH El Primero 400B Automatic, just like the ones found in stock Zenith El Primero chronographs. It also features a power reserve of up to  50 hours.

The Bamford Watch Department X Fragment Hiroshi Fujiwara Zenith El Primero will see an exclusive worldwide launch with Dover Street Market, and will be available in Dover Street Market stores in Singapore, London, New York, and Tokyo.