Joycoast is ready to put some fun in your summer fit

Not to mention some interesting materials

If you go back more than 5 years ago, wooden watches were quite the trend. And yes, you can still find them today. After that initial hit, we got sort of exhausted by just how similar all the designs looked and felt, and so we’ve resisted reviewing them. Then we had a local company, Joycoast reach out, and that were actually offering something different, and frankly, pretty fun. Today, we’ve got a roundup of three different items we went hands-on with.

Why wood?

That’s a valid question. When we look at watches, we’re usually focused on durability and longevity, which is why we tend towards steel and titanium (or precious metals if you’re feeling fancy), or maybe hard-wearing resins for those who want to lighten things up.

Well, with wood, you can actually get a pretty light watch. Secondarily, wood is a very renewable resource, so you can get to be a little eco-friendly (especially so with Joycoast, since each purchase plants 10 trees). Sure, there’s metal in the quartz movement, and those batteries have an impact, but overall, things are lessened.

Finally, you can get wood in finishes and colors that simply are difficult (or expensive) to achieve in resins and metals. For example, the watch and sunglasses we reviewed are Joycoast’s “Fruity Pebbles” color scheme, done up with bamboo (which is perhaps the fastest-growing “wood” plant out there). This is a look you just really don’t see.

The watch

In this category, Joycoast actually has 55 different options, both quartz and automatic, as well as chronograph options. We opted to keep things simple with a three-hand no-date that runs $175 in their Fruitloops color scheme. This is a 45mm case (10mm thick) paired to a 20mm bracelet (with deployant clasp), topped by a mineral crystal, and driven by a Miyota quartz movement. The first thing, as with any watch, is to get it sized.

Now, the good thing is that Joycoast includes a sizing tool with their watch, which is helpful for those buying these that aren’t watch folks. The caveat here is that the push pin in the tool isn’t long enough to actually break the split pin free of where the bamboo is grabbing it (I had to use some of my other equipment to get it free). Now, it is possible I was pushing the pin out the wrong direction (as there’s no arrow markings on the links). Whatever the reason, I did get things resized, and working for my wrist. And then resized again when my kids saw the watch and wanted to wear it.

First, though, I got to wear it. If you’ve not worn a bamboo (or wood) watch before, it’s eerie just how light the watch feels on the wrist. It’s like it’s barely there. Despite the more chaotic color scheme on the watch, reading the time is a cinch, as they wisely went with a flat black for the indices and handset. In short, it does everything you want a watch to do, and it does it with a color scheme that feels perfect for summer fun.

The sunglasses

Next up, we’ve got their polarized sunglasses, also in the Bamboo Fruitloops scheme, that run for $89 (they are also available in three other frame/lens colors). Ours came in with the clear frame and rose gold lens which means, yes, my kids immediately claimed these as well.

What’s great about these is that they take the classic Wayfarer profile, and here update it. Additionally, it they fit my oversized noggin very well, and still didn’t seem massive on my kids. The mirrored lenses are solid, but I really appreciate the fact that the lenses are polarized. In fact, any sunglasses I consider now, they have to be polarized. They just do such a good job of cutting down the glare hitting your eyes, without making things so dark, that it’s something I can’t go without.

Here, again, the bamboo on the arms of the sunglasses keeps things light, while the clear resin frames don’t overburden the bridge of your nose. I found them comfortable, and my kiddo has been wearing them pretty constantly. And you know, that’s a pretty good test. I’m overly careful with my sunglasses (wrapped, always in a case, etc). The kids? Not quite so much. Even with that, and the constant use, these sunglasses have held up, and the lenses haven’t picked up any scratches. So, they look to be a solid summertime option, especially if you want that pop of color.

The bracelet

Now, this one - the blue tigers eye x lava bead ($22) is one I didn’t let the kids claim. For me, this was a new foray, as I’ve not really worn a beaded bracelet, particularly one with the slip adjustment like this one has. The question is why - as a dude - would you want to wear a bracelet?

Well, that’s going to be an individual sort of a thing. For me, it’s another style element you can add in. Past that, I sort of like having that balance of a watch on my left wrist, and a bracelet on my right (much like why I wear a ring on both hands).

For this one, specifically, it’s pretty light weight, especially as compared to a metal bracelet. Again, that makes it great for summer. Here, with the tigers eye and lava beads, it’s also a bracelet I was not worried about it getting wet at all. Long story short, this is a solid impulse sort of a buy, especially at these prices. They do have other bead bracelets, a very intriguing micro-bead bracelet, as well as some options that look more like a narrow version of what you’d see as a watch bracelet.

Wrapping things up

All in all, these were some very fun options that we were happy to have cross the review desk. The more colorful options, as I mentioned, have disappeared into my kids’ ensembles, while the darker bracelet I’ve managed to keep my hands on, and have been wearing with regularity.

So, if you’re looking for some fun - and different - looks in watches, sunglasses, or bracelets, Joycoast has those options for you. Not only that, as you buy these wooden goods, you’re helping plant the next generation of forests that will be there for those coming after us. You can see the exact products linked up above, or you can check out the full range over at joycoast.com