In a unique synergy of fashion and tradition combining reclaimed oak whiskey barrels and steel, Original Grain has created one of the hottest new watches on the market.
It might seem like an obvious pairing, but it took until 2013 for someone to take this idea to market. While wooden watches are nothing new, Ryan and Andrew Beltran – two brothers from US’s Pacific Northwest – were the first to combine whiskey barrels and exotic woods.
Original Grain
Oak barrels have a limited lifespan when it comes to spirits. Take bourbon, for example, where each barrel can only be used one time. Occasionally, a bourbon-infused barrel can find a second life casking scotch, rum, or beer. But the majority of barrels face a far less productive future. With a ready supply of source materials, the brothers Beltran decided to use them to create their luxury timepieces.
No two wood grains are precisely alike. And the handcrafting of each timepiece ensures each piece is unique. Many luxury items claim to be one-of-a-kind, but few live up to their declaration.
The icing on the cake is the social-conscious aspect of OG’s business plan. For each watch bought, they plant ten trees in Senegal’s Forest Garden Program as part of their commitment to the sustainability of the earth’s forests.
Their flagship watch, the Whiskey / Espresso, retails for $149. The case is 47mm across, 12mm high, encased in 316L brushed Espresso stainless steel with a mineral crystal glass cover featuring Japanese Miyota Citizen Quartz Movement.
But their most coveted creation is the limited edition Jim Beam Black Kit – crafted from actual Jim Beam bourbon barrels. Retailing at $499, it also features automatic 8215 Miyota movement (21 jewels/40 hour power reserve).
The worst thing about limited editions is they sell out, as this one has. But if you’re lucky you might find on on eBay – but you’ll likely end up paying upwards of $600.
Thankfully, OG has plans to reintroduce the popular timepiece again in the near future.
Whiskey watches not your thing? They’ve got you covered! Check out their super sleek Rosewood Redline or Rosewood Black Classic that features two sub-dials, a stopwatch, and one-hour timer – all under a sapphire crystal glass
Original Grain also developed a proprietary adapter allowing you to attach an Apple watch to the underside of your OG timepiece. And while this might add a little too much weight for some people, if you insist on a combination of style and tech, then this is the one for you.
