For a while, I was very enamored with the ideas of a wood watch case. But the more I saw, the more I realized the limitations of the material. You can’t make it tough and thin at the same time, it is hard to waterproof, and the all-wood cases are often pale imitations of regular case designs. For those reasons, I am more interested in watches that incorporate wood into the watch, without using it as the case material. This led me to take a closer look at the NUVO Discovery Collection of watches, put together by a fledgling watch company out of Australia.
NUVO started with minimalist wood wallets, sold through their web site and in some stores in Australia. As the Kickstarter page describes it, they could not find the affordable, stylish and versatile watch they wanted (they could not have looked that hard if they are being truthful), so they set out to make their own watch. What they came up with was a 9mm thick, 42mm diameter, three hander with modern looks on a variety of NATO straps.
What sets them apart, at least a little bit, is that the watch face is made from sustainably sourced rosewood, stained to bring out the grain. The casing is stainless steel, with either a brushed, brass plated, or black PVD finish, which lets this watch with a touch of wood get a 50 meter depth rating. As one would expect at this price point, the mechanism is a Japanese quartz.
With each watch, you get your pick of one leather and two nylon NATO straps, so changing the look of the watch is easily done. Though I have not tried one on, I have worn others of similar dimensions, and it should fit comfortably and be flexible to go from something sporty to a more dressy venue.
I wouldn’t call it a full on dress watch, but it would be good enough for business casual. The campaign looks like it will hit its goal of $5,000 AUD, with pledges for watches starting at $80AUD for early birds or $75 each for a pair. If you want a wood wallet to go with the watch, check out their web site. nuvocollective.com
Watch Overview
- Brand & Model: NUVO Discovery Collection Watch
- Price: $80 to $100 AUD ($75 for 2)
- Who we think it might be for: You want the look of wood but the durability of a stainless watch.
- Would I buy or recommend it just on the photos?: It makes for an attractive, inexpensive option, so yes.
- If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: More subtle branding.
- What spoke to me the most about this watch: The look of wood without the limitations of a wood case.
