Hands-On with the Girard-Perregaux Deep Diver Legacy Edition X Bamford
Girard-Perregaux doesn’t usually make headlines with flashy releases or marketing stunts. That’s never been the brand’s style. They build watches with long-term appeal. Quietly, consistently, and often under the radar. But every once in a while, they surprise you. The new Deep Diver Legacy Edition, built in collaboration with Bamford Watch Department, is one of those moments.
This isn’t just a reissue of an old design. It’s a modern watch that revives a lesser-known piece of GP history with the kind of precision and personality that’s rare these days. The original Deep Diver came out in 1969. It wasn’t a blockbuster model. It was only produced for a few years, and unless you’re deep into vintage dive watches, you’ve probably never seen one in the metal. But it had a distinct design. A cushion-shaped case. A 14-sided bezel (that was actually the precurser to the 8-sided Laureato). An internal rotating bezel operated by a second crown. And a dial that looked like it came out of a sci-fi movie. It stood out in its time, and not really in a subtle way.
Vintage Girard-Perregaux Deep Diver
Now, in 2025, Girard-Perregaux brought that watch back — but instead of leaning on heritage alone, they teamed up with Bamford to rework it through a different lens. The result is a limited edition of 350 pieces that hits the right balance: it respects the original while fully embracing modern design sensibilities.
The watch measures 40.3mm wide, 38mm lug-to-lug, and 13.91mm thick. It’s made from Grade 5 titanium, which keeps the weight down and gives it a soft, almost warm tone in certain lighting. The dimensions might sound unconventional, but the watch wears well. The cushion case is compact on the wrist, and the short lugs help it sit flat and balanced. It doesn’t flop around or overhang. The surfaces are nicely finished, with radial brushing across the top and polished bevels that break up the geometry without feeling decorative.
The case has two crowns. One at 4 o’clock for setting the time and date, and another at 2 o’clock for controlling the inner rotating bezel. The crown action is smooth, and both screw down securely. Water resistance is rated at 200 meters, which is enough, but not exactly deep... The internal bezel uses the same angular, retro-styled font as the vintage model. This is one of those rare cases where a callback doesn’t feel forced. The typeface actually works with the rest of the design and adds character. You don’t need to know the history to appreciate it, but it’s there if you do.
And then there’s the dial. This is where the watch takes the biggest risks. It’s blue, white an orange, with the interior orange and outer blue making up the largest portions of the dial. The hands are a matching orange and match the style of the original model. The date window at 3 o’clock is unobtrusive, framed in orange and aligned with the dial layout. There’s no excessive text. Just the Girard-Perregaux logo at the top and a small Bamford signature below the center (in a slightly lighter orange). With everything else going on on the dial, I am glad there’s not more.
The new Deep Diver and a vintage piece.
The layout is functional. The colors aren’t just there for style. The high-contrast scheme actually makes the watch easier to read at a glance, both in daylight and in low light. The orange second hand is sharp and noticeable, and the internal bezel’s minute markings give you a clear sense of elapsed time. This watch thoughtfully uses its design to make the core functionality better.
Flip it over and you’ll find a blue-tinted sapphire caseback that gives you a look at the in-house GP03300 automatic movement. It’s 3.36mm thick, beats at 28,800 vph, and offers 46 hours of power reserve. It’s used widely across GP’s catalog and has proven to be reliable and accurate over time. The finishing is clean and consistent: Geneva stripes, circular graining, polished bevels, and a rotor engraved with a trident emblem, a reference to the Deep Diver’s marine heritage. The trident also appears on the watch’s caseback, something that was present on the original Deep Diver as well.
The movement isn’t flashy. But it really doesn’t need to be. While the watch technically has a display caseback, it is barely transparent enough to get a look at the movement. But, of course this isn’t the kind of watch where you need a skeletonized rotor or heavy decoration. That would feel pretty disconnected from the tool-watch concept. The fact that we get any glimpse of the movement at all through the caseback is more than enough for me. And, there’s the fact that the GP03300 is a practical caliber that happens to be manufactured in-house, finished properly, and built to last.
The Deep Diver comes with two rubber straps, one in deep navy and one in bright orange. Both are textured to resemble the original bracelet design from the vintage reference. That’s a subtle nod to the past, and one that most won’t even notice at first glance. The straps attach with quick-release spring bars and are fitted with titanium pin buckles that match the case finish. They’re soft, comfortable, and easy to swap. No tools needed.
A metal bracelet would’ve been a nice option, and some buyers might ask about that. But the rubber straps feel intentional (and you get two). They’re part of the more playful design language, and they suit the watch. The orange strap, in particular, changes the entire personality of the piece and leans into its more sporty side.
Retail is $15,100 USD. That’s not insignificant. But the value here comes from the materials, the design, and the limited nature of the release. You’re paying for a titanium case, an in-house movement, thoughtful design, and limited production. And it’s not just another dial swapped watch that is called a limited edition. This is a completely new watch, from case to dial design. That’s makes the Deep Diver a fair offer in the current market, especially when so many watches at this price point are bloated with compromises or hedge their identity to appeal to as many buyers as possible.
This watch obviously doesn’t do that. It’s confident, and somewhat strange, but in a good way. It makes choices and you’re either into it or you’re not. But that’s what I like about it There’s no middle-of-the-road positioning here.
What really makes this release stand out is that it doesn’t feel like a one-off. It feels like the result of people inside both GP and Bamford who actually wanted to build something fun and different, something with real character. You can see it in the dial. You can feel it in the case shape. You can tell by how well the parts all line up, from the typography to the strap texture to the colors on the hands.
This makes me excited to see where they go with the Deep Diver next. The brand’s previous limited collection, the Casquette 2.0 (of which I own one), leaned into different materials for its three different releases (ceramic and titanium). Will the Deep Diver do the same? Or will GP lean on different dial variations. There are a few different vintage Deep Diver dial variations that GP could use for inspiration. If this release goes well, I’m sure we will find out soon what comes next.
If you already have a dive watch or two and you’re looking for something off the main path, something with real design behind it, this is worth your time. It’s wearable. It’s unique. And it actually feels like it belongs in 2025, not just 1971 with modern specs.
Learn more about the Girard-Perregaux Deep Diver Legacy Edition here.
