Friendship Bracelets: Girard-Perregaux and Bamford Watch Department Team Up to Revive the Deep Diver

Of course, this is not the first time Girard-Perregaux and Bamford have paired up.

First, in 2020, the two brands teamed up for the limited edition, all white Laureato Ghost. Then, for their last collaborative piece, Girard-Perregaux and Bamford created a one-of-a-kind Casquette composed of forged carbon and titanium for the 2021 Only Watch auction.
 

These pieces are good examples of collaborations bringing good energy to both parties. With the Ghost, it was the first time white ceramic had been used on a Laureato. And because Bamford is best known for its black DLC finishes, it was nice to see them experiment with something so bright and glossy.

The Casquette also renewed interest in the 1970s cult classic and reminded the collectors of Girard-Perregaux’s history with avant-garde watchmaking. Moreover, Bamford got to play with a case shape they’d never explored.
 

In short, these previous collaborations allowed both brands to step back and look at their legacies from fresh perspectives.

Now, the partners are, once again, tapping the Girard-Perregaux archives for inspiration with today’s release of the new Deep Diver.

Introduced in 1957 as a sportier alternative to Girard-Perregaux’s Sea Hawk line, which remained a more formal collection until the 1980s, the original Deep Diver took on the chunk of funk design cues of the 1960s and ‘70s, featuring a barrel-shaped case with a distinctive 14-facet bezel set on a circular ring. The Deep Diver also featured a faceted bezel – a distinctive hallmark that would resurface years later with the iconic octagonal design of the Laureato.
 

For collectors, the ultimate expressions of the Deep Diver came in the late 1960s and early ‘70s, when Girard-Perregaux merged its bold design with an updated, high-frequency version (5 Hz) of its Gryomatic self-winding movement, which itself was remarkable because it relied on two “Gyrotron” freewheels with rubies, instead of ball bearings, to prevent wear and tear.
 

All of this history makes the Deep Diver a fun watch to revive.

Today, in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, the legendary 1969 Reference 9108 model makes its triumphant return as part of a new, limited-edition series: the Legacy Editions.
 

Housed in a cushion-shaped case with a 14-facet bezel and a striking red dial, the 2025 Deep Diver also integrates design elements (such as pops of blue, orange, and white on the dial) from a 1971 edition. What Bamford brings to the table is to imagine what the designers and watchmakers of the then-futuristic Deep Diver might have done with modern materials and technology.
 

For example, the new Deep Diver is powered by the in-house GP03300 calibre, manufactured entirely at the Girard-Perregaux facility in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It offers a power reserve of at least 46 hours. To bring it in line with modern sensibilities, the 40.3mm x 38mm wide and 3.36mm thick cushion-shaped case has been crafted in lightweight Grade 5 titanium, making it much more comfortable to wear.