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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchYes at its base, but no as a Rolex factory edition. The Bamford Commando was reported as a Rolex Submariner customized by Bamford Watch Department (BWD), not a separate model made or officially collaborated on by Rolex. The most accurate description is “Bamford-customized Rolex Submariner.”
What is the Bamford Commando Submariner?
The Commando was a BWD customization of Rolex catalogue watches, including the Submariner. A 2015 launch report described three camouflage finishes for the Submariner: Desert in sand, Forest in khaki, and Combat in brown. It said the work changed the bracelet, case, dial and hands. The report also discussed indices as part of BWD’s broader customization work, but does not establish that every Commando example had identical changes. The Watch Observer’s 2015 report is the source for those launch details.
This article is not based on a physical inspection or wear test. No exact reference number should be assumed for a Commando variant without documentation for the individual watch.
How to describe its Rolex identity
Think of the watch in two parts: Rolex made the underlying Submariner, while Bamford altered its final configuration. That makes it a Rolex at its base, but not a factory-produced “Rolex Commando.” Nor should it be described as an official Rolex-Bamford collaboration.
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That distinction is supported by the later history of BWD’s work. A 2018 report on the company’s LVMH partnerships said Bamford agreed to customize and sell watches only for brands with official partnerships under that arrangement, ending its Rolex, Panerai and Omega work at its Mayfair workshop. The report is historical and does not establish that every partnership term remains unchanged today. WatchPro’s 2018 report covers that change. An earlier Hodinkee visit report from 2012 also describes Bamford’s Rolex modifications and notes the lack of manufacturer approval; it is editorial reporting, not a Rolex policy statement.
What changed on the Commando?
The 2015 launch coverage identifies the bracelet, case, dial and hands as customized components. The three named Submariner styles were:
- Desert: sand camouflage styling.
- Forest: khaki camouflage styling.
- Combat: brown camouflage styling.
The report listed the Commando Submariner at £13,000 at launch in 2015. That is a historical launch price, not a current asking price, resale value or estimate of what a surviving example is worth. The same report gave a 2015 launch price of £12,000 for the Commando Milgauss; neither figure establishes current market pricing.
Warranty and servicing: what an owner should verify
Historical reports say BWD’s modification invalidated the manufacturer warranty and describe Bamford providing its own coverage. The Watch Observer’s 2015 report stated that Bamford offered a two-year company warranty and a lifetime warranty on the applied coating; Hodinkee’s 2012 report also mentioned Bamford’s own warranty. These are historical accounts, not confirmation that a particular surviving watch remains covered or that a current claim would be honored.
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Current Rolex service treatment of an individual modified watch has not been established here. Before buying or arranging service, check the watch’s original and Bamford paperwork, then ask Rolex or an authorized service provider directly about that specific watch and the work it needs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before buying a Bamford Commando
The Commando’s customization makes provenance and condition especially important. For an individual example, compare the following rather than relying on the model name alone:
- Factory originality and provenance: establish which Rolex Submariner is the base watch and who performed the customization.
- Specific changes: confirm which components were altered on that watch; the launch description does not prove every example is identical.
- Warranty and service documents: inspect the actual paperwork and confirm service options for the individual watch.
- Reference and condition: verify the exact Rolex reference and assess the condition of the base watch and customized parts.
- Price evidence: compare the asking price with verified sales of genuinely comparable examples. The 2015 launch price is not current market evidence.
Bamford’s current official homepage presents personalization, collections and collaborations, but does not list a Rolex customization service on that page. That supports treating the Commando as a historical product, but does not prove that no bespoke exception or secondary-market example exists. Bamford Watch Department’s current homepage is not a complete archive of past offerings.
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