Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. Ivy League Style on the Wrist with the J. Press x Bamford London B80
A playful collaborative watch with a collegiate-inspired take on dial design.
Collaborations in watchmaking often result in timepieces that are pure fun, especially when they take a graphic and conceptual route. This is precisely the case with the new Bamford London B80 created with J. Press. Inspired by Ivy League culture and vintage collegiate aesthetics, this limited edition of 100 pieces rethinks one of the essential elements of a watch: the dial.
Founded in 1902, J. Press was part of the American campus style, often credited with creating the “Ivy League look.” The influence is immediately visible. Instead of traditional hour markers, the dial is divided into twelve pennant-shaped segments, each segment spelling out the hour in a vintage collegiate banner style, bold, playful, and slightly nostalgic. The minutes/seconds track runs the dial´s periphery, and a gothic “J. Press” logo occupies the 9 o’clock segment, to highlight the collaborating partner. The overall result is unconventional for sure, and also brings to mind images of a ship’s engine order telegraph, another nostalgic reference, perhaps an idea for the dial design in the future.
The watch is based on the Bamford B80 model, with a modern and wearable titanium case measuring 39mm in diameter and 10.5mm thick. The case is hand-brushed with polished accents, topped with a sapphire crystal and featuring a titanium caseback that bears mentions of J.Press and Bamford. Water resistance is 100m.
The watch is powered by the Sellita SW300-1 automatic movement, a popular ETA 2892-A2 alternative, operating at 28,800 vibrations/hour and delivering a 56-hour power reserve. Reliable, easy to service and fairly precise.
The J. Press x Bamford B80 is worn on a fabric strap, navy blue in the promo images, and is limited to 100 numbered pieces, available through a short ordering window (March 2026), with deliveries from May 2026. Adding to the charm, the presentation box includes a bullion wire J. Press blazer badge, connecting the watch to J. Press’s sartorial roots. The price is USD 1,595. For orders, please visit jpress.com.
