Wooden watches are not only unique and eco-friendly but also showcase the beauty and versatility of natural wood. Each type of wood brings its own distinct aesthetic and characteristics, making it an essential part of a watch’s charm.
Below, we explore some popular woods used in our wood watches, including their origins, harvesting practices, and sustainability benefits.
Rosewood
With its rich, reddish-brown colour and striking grain patterns, Rosewood is visually stunning and durable.
Its dense composition ensures long-lasting strength, while its luxurious appearance makes it a popular choice for luxury rosewood watch designs.
Origin: Rosewood typically grows in tropical regions, including India, Brazil, and Madagascar.
Harvesting: Many rosewood watches are crafted from reclaimed wood or sustainably sourced materials, reducing the need for deforestation.
Sustainability: Responsible harvesting practices and using reclaimed rosewood highlight its eco-friendliness, making it a sustainable option for watch enthusiasts.
Zebra wood
Known for its bold, striped pattern, our Zebrawood watches features alternating light and dark brown stripes.
Its unique appearance gives it an exotic look. While it is moderately durable, it is more porous than denser woods, which may affect its long-term wearability.
Origin: Zebrawood is native to West Africa, where it thrives in tropical climates.
Harvesting: Reclaimed zebrawood from furniture or other products is often repurposed for watches, supporting sustainable use.
Sustainability: Its use in wooden watches highlights its versatility and promotes the value of reclaimed and responsibly sourced materials.
Walnut
Walnut is renowned for its deep, rich brown colour and fine, straight grain.
Walnut is highly durable and develops a beautiful patina over time, adding to its elegance. Its timeless appeal and smooth texture are ideal for high-end, long-lasting walnut wood watch designs.
Origin: Walnut trees grow in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, often in temperate regions.
Harvesting: Many walnut wood pieces are reclaimed from furniture or sourced as byproducts of other industries.
Sustainability: Its long-lasting nature and the ability to use reclaimed walnut make it a sustainable choice for eco-conscious consumers.
Olive Wood
Olive wood stands out for its beautiful, swirling grain and golden-brown colour, often accented with darker veins.
It is a hard, durable wood with a unique connection to Mediterranean culture, making it functional and culturally significant wood for your wooden watch.
Origin: Native to the Mediterranean region, olive trees are cultivated for both their wood and fruit.
Harvesting: Olive wood is often harvested from trees that no longer produce fruit, ensuring sustainable use.
Sustainability: Its dual-purpose cultivation and long-lasting durability make olive wood a culturally significant and environmentally friendly option.
Louro Preto Wood
Louro Preto is a dark, dense wood with a smooth texture and a rich, dark brown to black colour.
Known for its strength and resilience, it offers both beauty and durability, making it an excellent choice for Louro Preto high-end wood watches that require long-lasting strength.
Origin: This wood is native to South America, particularly in Brazil.
Harvesting: Reclaimed Louro Preto wood from furniture or construction is often repurposed for watchmaking.
Sustainability: By utilising reclaimed materials, Louro Preto watches minimise waste and promote environmentally friendly practices.
Ebony
Ebony is famous for its deep, almost black hue, making it one of the most elegant choices for watchmaking.
Its dense, heavy nature ensures durability and a premium feel, offering strength without sacrificing beauty.
Origin: This wood primarily comes from tropical regions in Africa and Asia, where it is prized for its rich colour and density.
Harvesting: Ebony is often salvaged from offcuts or reclaimed sources, reducing the impact on natural forests.
Sustainability: Efforts to protect ebony trees through sustainable forestry initiatives ensure our beautiful
ebony wood watches remains available for future generations.
White Ebony
A White Ebony wood watch is characterised by its light, creamy colour with dark, contrasting streaks. It has a smooth texture and is relatively durable, though not as dense as other ebony varieties.
Its unique contrast and elegance make it an attractive option for fine craftsmanship in watchmaking.
Origin: Found in Southeast Asia and Madagascar, white ebony is a rare and valuable wood.
Harvesting: Sustainable sourcing or reclaimed wood practices help preserve white ebony's unique beauty.
Sustainability: Its rarity underscores the importance of responsible use, with reclaimed white ebony offering a more eco-friendly choice.
Red Ebony
Red Ebony offers rich, reddish tones and a smooth, glossy finish.
Red Ebony is a dense, durable wood known for its strength and luxurious appearance for many of our wood watches. It is also a favourite for premium Rosewood watch designs (like our Sunset women's wood watch) where both beauty and durability are essential.
Origin: Red ebony trees are commonly found in Southeast Asia and Africa.
Harvesting: Like other ebony varieties, red ebony is often sourced from reclaimed or sustainably managed forests.
Sustainability: Its dense, durable nature ensures long-lasting products, reducing the need for frequent replacements and supporting environmental conservation.
Black Ebony
Black Ebony, one of the densest woods, is known for its striking, almost jet-black appearance.
It’s incredibly durable, making it ideal for watches that must withstand daily wear. Its sophisticated, dark hue and dense texture give it a timeless, elegant appeal to your wooden watch.
Origin: This wood grows in tropical regions, particularly in Africa and India.
Harvesting: Sustainable forestry initiatives focus on using ebony responsibly, including salvaging offcuts or sourcing reclaimed wood.
Sustainability: Black ebony’s incredible durability ensures that watches made from this wood have a long lifespan, reducing the environmental impact.
Each type of wood used in wooden watches tells its own story of natural beauty, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
By emphasising reclaimed and responsibly sourced materials, wooden watches offer a stylish and eco-conscious choice for those who value nature and timeless design.
