Rolex Pro Hunter - Bamford Rolex Watch - Rolex PVD Watches Compared
Posted by Jeff Chan on 7/15/2010
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Rolex PVD
Overview
Many of our customers looking for Black PVD Rolex watches ask us how we compare to the 2 other companies based in the UK that are doing a similar PVD process to Rolex watches: Pro Hunter and Bamford and Sons. This blog post should answer that question and more.
Background Information
Time and Gems |
Rolex Pro Hunter |
Bamford Watch Department |
Time and Gems Rolex PVD Watches
Relatively new on the scene in comparison and based in the USA, Time and Gems provides a number of "pre-customized" PVD Rolex watches. All sport models are offered in PVD, with some having more customizations than others. Customizations include subtle changes like custom bezels, to the more extreme such as carbon fiber dials and black diamond bezels. Time and Gems also allows people to send in their watch for PVD coating and customization - something that Bamford and Pro Hunter do not do. Their website can be found here:
Time and Gems
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Rolex Pro Hunter Based in the UK their concept is "a Rolex designed for the hunting community". Notable mentions besides the PVD coating, is most of the Rolex Pro Hunter watches come with a Nylon or what's called "Nato" straps that go on "fixed lugs"that are permanent. This means you cannot fit a traditional metal band on the watch. This increases "durability and comfort for crawling and other outoor activities". Also each design, comes in a limited run and has "PRO-HUNTER" stamped on the dial - often directly above the model name. Their website can be found here:
Pro Hunter
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Bamford Rolex
Part of a larger company, Bamford & Sons, that sells all sorts of high-end products such as clothing and accesories, Bamford Watch Department was started in about 2004 doing Rolex customizations and PVD coating. Their site allows you to build a Bamford Rolex that can be customized in a number of ways from the dial color to the date wheel to the second hands. Their website can be found here:
Bamford Watch Department
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Deciding On A Watch To Compare: Customizations
There are a huge number of customizations available for PVD Rolex watches and each has it's own cost. Just so you have an idea here's what we can do at Time and Gems:
Rolex PVD Customizations
I know the above example is a bit extreme, but it just goes to show I'll need to keep it simple. I've decided to compare the "plain jane" Rolex PVD GMT Master II with Ceramic Bezel since this is the one of the few watches that all 3 companies offer with little customization.
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Time and Gems |
Rolex Pro Hunter |
Bamford Watch Department |
Additional Customizations Available |
- Custom Date Wheel
- Custom Hand Colors
- Custom Dial Printing
- Custom Dial Markers
- Custom Bezel
|
None - Must choose between pre-customized models |
- Custom Date Wheel
- Custom Hand Colors
- Custom Dial Printing
- Custom Dial Markers
|
New or Used |
Preowned and New watches with authenticated appraisal |
Works exclusively with new Rolex watches - includes Rolex warranty card |
Works exclusively with new Rolex watches - does not include Rolex warranty card |
Warranty |
2 Years - with 1 free recoating per year |
2 Years on movement |
2 Years on movement |
Price |
$9,000 |
$15,081
(GBP 9,950) |
$13,641
(GBP 9,000) |
The Verdict
If price is no object and you're attracted to the Pro Hunter name as well as appreciate the fixed spring bars the Rolex Pro Hunter offers, then by all means go with the Pro Hunter. Otherwise, there doesn't seem to be much of a difference between the three. With a Bamford Rolex watch and a PVD Rolex from Time and Gems, the biggest difference is really the price, since both offer additional customizations, with Time and Gems being about 50% less expensive (about $4,500). If you PVD a Rolex watch, you won't be able to tell whether it's brand new or 5 years old anyway so Time and Gems from my point of view seems to be the best bang for the buck - in that you can get the same level of customization for a fraction of the price of what a Rolex Pro Hunter or a Bamford Rolex would cost.
