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These Watches Are Made of Beer Barrels and Seats from Yankee Stadium

By Steven John Published April 20, 2021

original grain watch — Steven John/The Manual

A watch made out of a whiskey or beer barrel wouldn’t be worth a single comment if the watch didn’t work well and look great. On the other hand,

Original Grain

watches would be worth showing off even if they weren’t made largely out of wood sourced from whiskey barrels, beer barrels, used Major League Baseball bats, stadium seats, ammunition crates, and all sorts of other materials one would never expect to find in a watch.

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But you’ll be glad you did because these watches are far from gimmicks. Those unexpected source materials blend perfectly with more classic materials like brushed steel, crystal, genuine leather, and others. Original Grain watches feature a Japanese quartz movement and are highly reliable.

And they’re attainable, too. These watches range in price from around $160 on the lowest end to just under $900 on the other end of the spectrum. Which isn’t cheap, but also isn’t madness in the oft-inflated world of timepieces. (And if you’re looking to give one as a gift, the presentation? You could set your watch to it.)

Steven John/The Manual

Original Grain was launched in 2013 by a pair of brothers, Andrew and Ryan Beltran, who had the elegantly simple idea to incorporate reclaimed wood into elegant watches. And the idea worked surprisingly well. Now six years into their project, the company is still expanding and adding new pieces regularly.

The company offers dozens of different styles of watches, from the bold and assertive to the more demure and subtle, so you’ll surely find one to suit your style. And because of the decidedly unique source materials, you can count on every Original Grain watch to be decidedly unique. Despite every model enjoying the same meticulous construction, the varied hues and grain of the woods used to make your very own chronometer ensure it will be one of a kind. Just like you are, buddy.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Steven John is a writer and journalist living just outside New York City, by way of 12 years in Los Angeles, by way of…

Topics

Watches

Fashion & Style

Urban Jürgensen revival captures watch world attention with modern approach

Danish legacy reborn: Urban jürgensen's 250-year heritage meets contemporary luxury under new ownership

Urban Jürgensen revival

Urban Jürgensen became 2025’s most discussed watch revival. A 250-year-old Danish horological legacy was transformed into a contemporary luxury brand through family ownership and the technical leadership of renowned independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. The brand’s Los Angeles launch event was the year’s most talked-about watch presentation.
Founded in Copenhagen in 1773, Urban Jürgensen produced over 700 timepieces in the early 1800s and developed technical innovations such as ultra-precise marine chronometers. Despite several ownership changes and near disappearance over two centuries, passionate collectors preserved the brand’s reputation among watch experts.
“The biggest, most respected collectors own Urban Jürgensen watches—this brand, this name, is simply the highest level,” said watch writer Thomas Brechtel, highlighting the devoted following among serious enthusiasts, even though the brand remains little known to the general public.
The Rosenfield family acquired Urban Jürgensen in 2021, bringing a collector’s passion to the brand’s stewardship. Co-CEO Alex Rosenfield’s father had collected Urban Jürgensen pieces since the 1990s, which led to an unexpected opportunity to acquire the company when it needed investment to restart.
Kari Voutilainen, widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed independent watchmakers, leads technical development, while his 25-year-old daughter Venla serves as COO. This partnership brings authentic watchmaking credibility while modernizing the brand’s communication to appeal to younger audiences.
The launch collection includes three models showcasing Voutilainen’s craftsmanship: the UJ-1 250th Anniversary Tourbillon limited to 75 pieces (CHF 368,000), the UJ-2 three-hand watch (CHF 105,000), and the UJ-3 perpetual calendar with moonphase (CHF 168,000). Each features clean Scandinavian dial aesthetics, fine guilloché, and hand-applied numerals.
“The image contrasts modern, playful marketing with serious, traditional watchmaking—but it works because it is grounded in artisanal quality,” observed JX Su, founder of SJX Watches.
Rosenfield’s approach emphasizes accessibility rather than exclusivity, targeting a diverse audience including women and younger collectors, not just established enthusiasts. Ellen von Unwerth’s “Time Well-Spent” campaign, featuring people aged 19 to 82, reflects this inclusive vision.
This revival shows how historic watch brands can succeed today by combining genuine craftsmanship with contemporary communication strategies.

Fashion & Style

Noah and Timex release lighthouse watch following sun and moon success

Long island heritage: Noah's timex lighthouse watch honors golden ellipse legacy

Noah x timex collab

Noah continues its watch partnership with Timex through the Lighthouse Watch, following last summer’s sold-out Sun & Moon Watch. That earlier collaboration became one of 2024’s most popular affordable timepieces. This new $228 release draws inspiration from Long Island history and pays homage to an iconic watch design.
The Lighthouse Watch reflects Noah designer Brendon Babenzien’s connection to his Long Island roots, specifically the Fire Island Lighthouse near his childhood home. Babenzien explains that the lighthouse was always in the background of his life, making it a meaningful motif for this watch.
Design-wise, the watch is a clear nod to the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse, with a softly rounded, gold-plated stainless steel case measuring 31 x 35mm. This silhouette, paired with a croco-pattern leather strap, evokes the elegant, curvy shapes of the 1970s while remaining accessible thanks to Timex’s manufacturing. The minimalist white dial features a charcoal illustration of a lighthouse at six o’clock, serving as the centerpiece of the design. Gold-tone baton hands and subtle Noah NY and Timex branding at three and six o’clock complete the look, while the absence of hour markers keeps the focus on the artwork.
This collaboration stands out from typical fashion watch releases by integrating a personal, artistic touch that fits seamlessly with Noah’s aesthetic—mirroring the brand’s graphic tees and tailored pieces. The watch is powered by a reliable quartz movement, protected by a mineral glass crystal, and offers 30 meters of water resistance for everyday use. The 18mm lug width and compact size make it suitable for a range of wrist sizes, though the elliptical case may appeal most to those open to alternatives to round watches.
Pre-orders run from June 5–12, with delivery expected in November 2025. The $228 price point positions the Lighthouse Watch between entry-level fashion watches and basic Swiss options, reflecting Noah’s accessible luxury ethos and appealing to both streetwear fans and those who prefer preppy style.
Notably, this is the first Noah watch Babenzien plans to wear himself, despite not being a watch collector—a testament to the design’s broad appeal for those seeking a unique, easy-to-wear piece rather than a collector’s item. The collaboration demonstrates how fashion brands can create meaningful, affordable watches through authentic partnerships and storytelling, attracting both core customers and watch enthusiasts looking for alternatives to luxury icons.

Fashion & Style

Zenith unveils stealth defy shadow dive watches in micro-blasted titanium

Dark depths: Zenith's micro-blasted titanium defy shadow editions honor 1969 heritage

Zenith defy extreme shadow diver blue background

Zenith redefines its DEFY dive watch legacy with two striking "Shadow" editions, giving both new and classic designs a fresh look in micro-blasted titanium. The DEFY Extreme Diver Shadow and the DEFY Revival Diver Shadow blend the collection's 1969 origins with modern stealth aesthetics, creating professional-grade dive tools for underwater exploration.
Since 1969, the DEFY collection has earned the nickname "time safe" for its robust construction, which protected movements like a vault. The original DEFY Diver A3648, known as the DEFY Plongeur, showcased serious diving credentials with 600-meter water resistance and a rotating bezel—qualities these Shadow editions pay tribute to, while also introducing contemporary materials and bold visual statements.
The DEFY Extreme Diver Shadow features a 42.5mm micro-blasted titanium case, emphasizing the collection's angular profile. Its matte finish highlights geometric lines and enhances the stealthy look, while yellow accents boost visibility. The black ceramic bezel is unidirectional and filled with Super-LumiNova for clear readability, with fluted edges for easy operation with gloves.
Robust engineering is evident in the 600-meter water resistance, helium escape valve, and screw-down crown with guards, making the watch suitable for saturation diving. The black dial, adorned with a star pattern, features C1 Super-LumiNova markers and yellow accents for visibility in low light.
Both models, despite their depth ratings, have display case backs to showcase their movements. The Extreme Diver houses the El Primero 3620 automatic caliber in a black finish, beating at 36,000 vibrations per hour. It includes a paramagnetic escapement and silicon components, delivering a 60-hour power reserve.
The DEFY Revival Diver Shadow faithfully echoes the original A3648, with a 37mm micro-blasted titanium case and the signature fourteen-sided bezel. The unidirectional bezel features a yellow-tinted sapphire insert, and the screw-down crown is positioned at 4:30, just like the first model. Water resistance remains at 600 meters, or 1,969 feet—a nod to the DEFY collection’s founding year.
The Elite 670 automatic caliber powers the Revival Diver, operating at 4Hz with a 60-hour power reserve. Its display case back reveals a Geneva-striped oscillating weight shaped like the Zenith star.
Both models offer a variety of strap options, including micro-blasted titanium bracelets, black rubber with a Cordura-effect texture, and fabric straps made from recycled fishing nets. Quick-change mechanisms make swapping straps easy.
These Shadow editions highlight Zenith’s ongoing innovation in professional dive watch design, seamlessly combining technical excellence with bold, contemporary styling.