SPGBK crafts watch collection from recycled maple wood

SPGBK crafts watch collection from recycled maple wood
all images courtesy of SPGBK

‘we discovered that there was a lack of originality within the watch industry. everyone was wearing the same metal-linked or thick plastic watch. in addition to the complacency, we noticed that the other wood watches in the market were extremely over-priced and were, for lack of a better word, plain and boring. they looked very simple and didn’t embody the feel of a real watch.’ stated by long-time friends kwame molden and maurice davis, this lack of diversity in the watch design world has driven the duo to create their own products under the brand name SPGBK.

‘manhattan’

following the observation, they saw the opportunity to ‘provide watch enthusiasts with unique and self-expressive watches that are stylish, moderately priced, and environmentally-friendly.’ each piece moves away from the typical alloy build towards a use of recycled maple wood. the material was selected for its biodegradable, sustainable and hypo-allergenic qualities, which are reinforced by a low carbon footprint.

the ‘south beach’

the lightweight timber has been crafted to articulate each of the intricate details seen in other watches along with slight alterations. the 46mm face consists of a rigid bezel featuring small circular indentations that provide a grippable texture along its circumference. on top, marks have pressed into the outer ring to distinguish one-, five-, and ten-minute increments. meanwhile, the interior reports time according to graphics of simple geometries – triangles, squares, and circles – using miyota movement, a unidirectional and automatic japanese winding system. this can be adjusted by a gold watch crown embedded into the right side of the design.

each watch is made out of recycled maple wood

the circumference features a rigid edge

a polkadot background

‘blue magic’

‘south beach’

‘heisman’

model wearing ‘blue magic’

‘heisman’ advertisement

‘manhattan’ promotional material

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.