Bamford Mayfair watch is updated in a kaleidoscope of colour

The Bamford name has been inextricably linked with classic cars since the 1960s, which is when JCB chairman Lord (Anthony) Bamford set out on a collecting path that has since seen some of the world’s most valuable exotica pass through his hands.

Renowned for his love of Ferraris, Lord Bamford currently owns two GTOs, rarities from the 1950s and ’60s such as a 166 MM, 250 Testa Rossa and a 275 GTB/4 Spider, as well as blue-chip examples of some of the most sought-after Jaguars, Alfas, Astons and Rolls-Royces.

Perhaps inevitably his youngest son, George, inherited a love for all things mechanical and has successfully furrowed his own path both as an independent car collector and as a serious player in the watch world.

Bamford Jr, 45, founded his Bamford Watch Department in 2009, initially as a Rolex customiser before becoming an official partner of the LVMH watch division and a producer of own-brand Bamford timepieces. The first of these was the Mayfair (in honour of its South Audley Street HQ) and was originally intended to be a watch that customers could use while their own, more luxurious wristwear was being repaired or serviced.

In the event, the Mayfair became coveted in its own right, boosted by a growing reluctance among owners of expensive and easily recognisable timepieces to wear them on city streets and run the gauntlet of the opportunist watch thieves known as ‘Rolex rippers’.

It’s an exaggeration to describe the Mayfair as a cult classic, but it garnered enough of a following to inspire Bamford to create the 2.0 version, which meets all the criteria set by the original (i.e. practical, wearable and fun) while offering the bonus of being ‘modular’.

It’s delivered as a good quality watch head made from titanium onto which a selection of four brightly coloured hybrid polymer outer cases can be quickly clipped to create a range of different appearances. Depending on whether blue, green, white or pink dials are chosen, each watch is delivered with a contrasting set of snap-on cases and a pair of straps, one made from black rubber and the other in a suitably contrasting coloured fabric.

Inside the 40mm diameter head sits a Swiss-made chronograph movement with split-seconds function which, being a battery-powered quartz effort, helps to keep the price down and should be robust and long-lived.

Bamford describes the Mayfair 2.0 as “at the intersection of utility and identity”, which sounds fair enough – but it mainly appeals because its well-made, chameleon-like and, above all, affordable. So if it does get ‘ripped’, it’ll be less of a problem than losing your Rolex.

Bamford Mayfair 2.0, £495. bamfordlondon.com

H Moser’s backing of the Alpine F1 team has led to Pierre Gasly designing a watch that reflects his “profound, subtle and slightly mysterious image” (says the spiel). Gasly chose everything from the colour and texture of the dial to the type of movement, opting for a 40mm red gold case housing a sunburst dial in smoked brown and highlighted by red gold indexes. There will be 100 ‘regular’ versions plus 10 with a ruby embedded at 10 o’clock (Gasly’s number).

H Moser Streamliner Tourbillon Pierre Gasly Edition, from £94,800. h-moser.com

TAG Heuer continues its partnership with Senna Brands with (another) Formula 1 watch dedicated to the Brazilian. This time it’s a 44mm self-winding chronograph with a DLC-treated titanium case and a carbon bezel marked with the distinctive S logo. His famous yellow, green and blue helmet livery is used to highlight the 120-hour subdial at six o’clock, with more vibrant yellow on the centre seconds hand, dial details and rubber strap. Turning the watch over reveals an engraving of a helmeted Senna, and each one is delivered in a liveried box.

TAG Heuer Formula 1 x Senna, £4950. tagheuer.com