William Wood Watches Bronze Ruby Preview
Background
William Wood Watches is named after the owner, Jonny Garrett's late grandfather, who served in the British Fire Service for over twenty-five years. Jonny wanted to honor his grandfather's legacy and commemorate their strong bond by designing and building timepieces that embody these sentiments.
William Wood Watches ensures that each timepiece carries a physical and emotional legacy via upcycled firehose materials and brass in their watchstraps and some case backs.
As a retired naval firefighter, I was intrigued by the whole vibe around William Wood Watches. Their effort to honor firefighters everywhere through their design elements was enough for me to reach out and inquire about a preview.
Fortunately, Jonny was kind enough to send me the Bronze Ruby edition from their Valiant Collection, and I had the privilege of wearing the timepiece for a week.
My thoughts are below.
Initial Impressions
The packaging was refined and appropriate for a special edition of the Valiant Collection. I usually don't dig too much packaging material because it sometimes feels wasteful, but that was not the case here.
William Wood knew what they were doing in developing this packaging as it added to the unboxing experience. I can see a collector who also happened to be a firefighter using the packaging as a display in a home office or hang-out space.
Flush with deep reds and gold accents, the packaging is exceptional. These colors have special meaning to me, which I'll touch on later.
When I opened the package, I found the Ruby Bronze wrapped in an elegant red leather watch roll, signed with a highly detailed gold firefighter's helmet appliqué.
The watch roll is a nice touch and practical as well. It's not like you're just getting a watch in this purchase. The roll holds three timepieces, is very soft inside, and features snap pillows allowing for ease of use.
Specifications
I like to get this section out of the way early in a preview. Here you are:
Movement: Seiko NH35 (Automatic)
Case diameter: 41mm
Case thickness: 16mm
Lug to lug: 47mm
Lug width: 20mm
Water Resistance: 100 meters
Case Material: Bronze
Crystal: Double domed sapphire with anti-reflective coating
Rotating bezel with Super-LumiNova 12 dot
Lume: Super-LumiNova hands, indices, and bezel 12 dot
Domed dial with date window and sweeping second hand
3-year international warranty
30 day free returns period
Wearability
Numbers can be misleading. At times in both positive and negative lights. Upon reading that the Bronze Ruby's case thickness was 16mm, I was taken aback. That's pretty thick and usually indicates a timepiece that eats a lot of wrist real estate. Once I put it on, nothing could be further from the truth.
The bronze ruby fits like a dream, and the bronze case doesn't feel any heavier than a standard stainless steel case. The 47mm lug-to-lug distance locks in the wearability of this timepiece and makes it fit like a dream on my 7 1/2" (19.05cm) wrist.
The 47 mm lug-to-lug distance and the strap options provided made for a very comfortable wearing experience that came as a surprise as I am not a big rubber strap fan. I own a couple but hardly wear them. What William Wood has done with the suppleness of the straps and precisely placing the stitching in channels allows for some breathability and comfort.
Overall the Bronze Ruby wears comfortably and feels like an everyday piece, especially if you enjoy some color in your daily wear.
Details
If spending 20+ years in the military has taught me anything, details matter. It is what separates the good from the great and, in some situations, can mean the difference between minor and major casualties.
I was hoping that a brand that extolls the virtues of a firefighting culture would nail the details, and William Wood Watches has done just that.
The dial and case have so many incredible details to enjoy. From the crew manager rank markings at the 12 o'clock index, British fire engine checkered markings that encircle the dial's perimeter, and a second hand that harkens to the chime from engine bells, it's a feast for the discerning eye. The back end of the second hand also resembles the head of a firefighting ax!
There are also some practical details to consider. Quick-release spring bars are provided on the upcycled fire hose and fire kit straps. I always appreciate this touch, especially when a case does not have drilled lug holes, as the Bronze Ruby does not.
Changing the straps was a breeze and altered the appearance of the Bronze Ruby enough to give it a fresh feel with a new strap.
When I swapped in the fire kit on the Bronze Ruby, the color combination reminded me of the thousands of fire drills I have run in my career as we wear tan firefighting ensembles (a one-piece kit) and red helmets on U.S. Navy ships.
I have to highlight one specific detail that might sound crazy to some, but if you are a firefighter, I am sure you'll understand what I mean.
During my week on the wrist, I was doing something, maybe putting on my reading glasses, and I caught a whiff of the Bronze Ruby and was instantly brought back to my ships. I'm sure most people don't consider this (because why would they), but metals do have specific aromas.
For example, the aroma of wet stainless steel is not enjoyable for me. Those in the Navy will know why.
On Navy ships, especially as firefighters, we handle bronze all day. From firefighting nozzles to the valves (some of which are painted red!) that control the flow of firefighting water. It is a ubiquitous metal in our profession and one that you don't run into all that much when you no longer operate in that capacity.
This little detail truly captured the essence of the Bronze Ruby design elements and only added to the credibility of the legacy that William Wood Watches is built on.
While I know that one can't plan this type of detailing, it indicates getting many other details right. It's a sum of its parts, and it comes across beautifully.
Final Impressions
The William Wood Watches Bronze Ruby is a model that fully embodies what it means to be a firefighter. I get that the whole vision of the brand is built on that but having a William Wood on my wrist, especially the Bronze Ruby, took me to my home away from home.
I know this is heavy praise, and the timepiece isn't perfect. Coming in at USD 1117, it is in the upper level of affordability, especially if on a military member's budget. The NH35 is a workhorse movement but not one I'd like to see in a timepiece at this price point.
In the future, this is something William Wood could easily change and provide a movement commensurate with their attention to detail in design and construction.
With the attention to detail paid in the build and design of the Bronze Ruby, I can't help but believe that William Wood Watches is planning on improving the movements as time goes on. I've seen many new watch brands do this as they grow, and I understand the use of the NH35 movement.
Closing Thoughts
William Wood Watches is building a legacy, and it is apparent that both care and thought go into the brand. As a relatively new brand, William Wood can draw on the example set by Jonny's grandfather.
There is some weight there. There is history to the name 'William Wood".
It's not a watch collector's name. It's not a made-up name meant to sound "right."
It is the name of a man who built his legacy by performing a challenging profession for an extended period and doing so with enough grace to impress upon his grandson a desire to keep his legacy alive.
As watch collectors, so many of the legacies we revel in or revile were made long before we started collecting. All the big names in the industry, on average, began their journies in the 19th century.
We all missed watching the giants of horology build their histories.
But now, we are here and have the opportunity to watch William Wood Watches build theirs.
I'm looking forward to it.
“William Wood Watches provided the Bronze Ruby for preview. They did not have any input in the preview and will see it for the first time when it releases. I returned the Bronze Ruby to William Wood Watches when I was complete with the preview.”
