In modern watchmaking, collaboration has evolved from a trend into a creative language of its own—an arena where contrasting visions collide, challenge each other, and often produce the most compelling designs of the year. The industry’s most memorable releases increasingly come from these unlikely pairings, where tradition meets reinterpretation, and heritage is sharpened through the lens of contemporary design. This year, one collaboration stood out above the noise: Frederique Constant joining forces with Bamford Watch Department for a radical reimagining of the Highlife Chronograph unveiled at Dubai Watch Week 2025. It’s a meeting point of two identities that enhances both, carving out a fresh and forward-looking chapter for the Highlife collection.
The case of the Highlife Chronograph Automatic Bamford Special measures 41mm and is crafted in grade 2 titanium that has been subjected to a crystallisation heat treatment at 1,200 °C before receiving a black DLC finish. The watch is fitted with a convex sapphire crystal treated with anti-reflective coating. Chronograph actuation is via rectangular pushers at 2 o’clock, and 4 o’clock, and has a crown at 3 o’clock. The matte black dial has a conventional tri-compax layout (30-minute counter at 3 o’clock, 12-hour counter at 6 o’clock, small seconds at 9 o’clock). There is a tachymeter scale on the outer periphery of the dial. The hour markers are applied and finished in a silver tone; the hour and minute hands are silver and filled with white luminous material. The Bamford Special omits the date function.
Powering the Highlife Chronograph Automatic Bamford Special is the in-house FC-391 calibre, an automatic chronograph based on the established Valjoux 7750 architecture and refined through collaboration with La Joux-Perret. The movement runs at 28,800 vibrations/hour, uses 26 jewels and offer a 60-hour power reserve on a fully wound barrel. Finishings include Côtes de Genève on the bridges and a gold-tone rotor visible through the smoked caseback. Each watch is delivered with three interchangeable straps: black rubber, turquoise rubber and black nubuck calf.
