{"id":1767,"date":"2018-10-09T13:57:44","date_gmt":"2018-10-09T13:57:44","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2021-08-03T16:34:21","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T16:34:21","slug":"george-bamford-the-art-of-customization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/george-bamford-the-art-of-customization\/","title":{"rendered":"George Bamford & The Art Of Customization"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThat\u2019s everything in life,\u201d George says. \u201cWhy not do it?\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s exactly the response he gave when asked about whether he was nervous taking apart his first watch.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was 11, my parents gave me a watch and it just snowballed from there. I took that watch apart and rebuilt it, took it apart and rebuilt it . . . all the time,\u201d says George.<\/p>\n

He describes himself as a frustrated engineer, discovering a love for how things operate at a young age while dismantling kettles, juicers, basically anything he could find.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just kind of peace of mind,\u201d he says. \u201cI found peace in stripping and rebuilding.\u201d<\/p>\n

What started as a passion project turned into a full-blown career when he began customizing high-end timepieces, creating one-of-a-kind treasures for clients.<\/p>\n

\u201cClients saying, \u2018this is something I love, this is something I want\u2019 is amazing for me,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

George notes the customization process can take anywhere from six to eight weeks, exploring colors and numerous design options.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re creating something unique that he\u2019ll hold onto forever,\u201d says George, referencing a recent client who wanted a special sub dial on his timepiece.<\/p>\n

Customization isn\u2019t a quick art form, it takes time. George says it took nearly five years to create the Bamford London signature blue you see on many of his timeless designs.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was looking at colors, I was wanting a color that really stood out on black,\u201d George says. \u201cYellow does, red does, but for me, it was just like, \u2018what else would work?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

He finally moved forward with a variation of aqua blue.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not easy, it\u2019s about getting the right blue. It really has to pop and in the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the trial and error testing seemed endless, the final result is a masterpiece blue that truly shines on hero products\u2014a perfect example of the age-old adage: \u201cgood things come to those who wait.\u201d<\/p>\n

And those good things are measured, George says, by what he calls the \u201cgotta want to steal it\u201d feeling.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou walk away and go, \u2018I want that product, I want it and I don\u2019t know why.\u2019 That for me is an emotional thing,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

While George started with watches, customization requests have permeated across categories, from headphones to car interiors to home decor and beyond.<\/p>\n

Of his favorite customization projects, George calls out the TAG Heuer Monaco x Bamford timepiece; the Master Dynamic x Bamford headphones; and the ic! Berlin x Bamford eyeglasses.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose three projects, working in collaboration on something weird and wonderful and something out of the norm, those are the things that make me go, \u2018that\u2019s amazing,\u2019\u201d George says.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s that same level of excitement George is bringing to Shinola with a special customization of our Runwell Wall Clock.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve been collecting wall clocks for ages,\u201d says George. \u201cI think wall clocks are such a cool thing, they are underestimated.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Shinola x Bamford London 14\u201d Runwell Wall Clock features a powder-coated zinc case in satin dark gray and a stunning dark gray dial with raised Arabic indices and luminous hands. The dial is adorned with the Bamford logo and a second hand sporting the company’s signature blue.<\/p>\n

\u201cShinola is cool, the company has a very cool vibe,\u201d he says. \u201cI like how the decisions happen, it\u2019s like, \u2018yeah, let\u2019s get on and fricking do this.\u2019 You have something different and that\u2019s what I love.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the different, the weird and the wonderful that keeps George passionate about customization\u2014always aiming for \u201cgotta want to steal it\u201d status.<\/p>\n

When he\u2019s not taking things apart, George says he enjoys cycling and also\u2014well, taking things apart.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy wife kept saying, \u2018you need to do yoga,\u2019 and then I bought an engine.\u201d<\/p>\n

*Profile image of George Bamford courtesy Bamford London<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cThat\u2019s everything in life,\u201d George says. \u201cWhy not do it?\u201d It\u2019s exactly the response he gave when asked about whether he was nervous taking apart his first watch. \u201cWhen I was 11, my parents gave me a watch and it just snowballed from there. I took that watch apart and rebuilt it, took it apart […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[3],"yoast_head":"\nGeorge Bamford & The Art Of Customization - Our Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/george-bamford-the-art-of-customization\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"George Bamford & The Art Of Customization - Our Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u201cThat\u2019s everything in life,\u201d George says. \u201cWhy not do it?\u201d It\u2019s exactly the response he gave when asked about whether he was nervous taking apart his first watch. \u201cWhen I was 11, my parents gave me a watch and it just snowballed from there. 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