The History of William Wood Watches
The brand is built upon the familial legacy of courage and dependability. William Wood spent 25 years in the British Fire Service, and is a true hero, as well as the grandfather of the founder of the brand. William Wood Watches founder Johnny had this to say about his grandfather:
“My grandfather was without doubt a hero and incredible man. On 29th June 1966 he and 3 fellow firefighters saved 5 small children aged between 5 and 1 from a severe house fire. They were all awarded with a Certificate of Merit for their courage and bravery which was the first Certificate to ever be awarded in the history of the Newcastle & Gateshead Fire Brigade.”
William Wood died in 2009, yet his memory lives on via William Wood Watches timepieces.
The Logo
Knowing the brand’s historical background, it follows that the design of their timepieces would include an homage to the British Fire Service. The side profile of a 1920s firefighter’s helmet is displayed as an emblem of courage and heroism on the dials and crowns.
The Uniqueness of William Wood Watches
Every component of William Wood watches is infused with actual British firefighting heritage. Beyond the meaningful logo emblem, the brand has utilized a blue recycled firehose as well as a melted down authentic 1920’s British brass firefighter’s helmet and placed it in the rear of their Chivalrous Collection.
Helping the Firefighter Community
The founder, Jonny Garrett was chosen as Self-Made Entrepreneur by Esquire. What’s impressive and inspirational is that William Wood Watches donated over L75,000 to international firefighting charities.
But seeing the watches on the wrists of individuals who respect the brand’s narrative, history, and principles is the finest part of the journey for Jonny Garrett. They understand that these watches are more than simply timepieces; they are a message of togetherness, respect, and bravery that anybody wearing one may proudly feel and share.
William Wood Watch Movements
Quartz
William Wood Watches use a combination of different movements.
Their quartz watches come with Ronda Swiss quartz movement. The Ronda is considered a high-end quartz movement with three hands (hour, minutes, and seconds) and a date.
Automatic
Their automatic watches have two different movement options:
The Japanese NH35 automatic movement provided by Seiko. The NH35 automatic movement is commonly used by other brands. This tried and true movement ensures you’re not risking being a guinea pig for an unestablished movement thay may not have proven it’s quality.
The Swiss Sellita SW200 Automatic: This automatic movement is provided by the Sellita Group and it is a very trusted Swiss movement. This movement gives you a 38-hour power reserve.
Takeaway: Are William Wood Watches Good Watches?
We think William Wood Watches produce great time pieces from a variety of angles:
- The case materials and colors give the watches a very unique look.
- Great quality movement – both quartz and automatic.
- Their involvement in helping the firefighter community is inspiring and commendable.
Here at TheWatchResource, we’re fans of William Wood Watches, and we think purchasing a watch from them is a great decision. Their watches and the brand itself are a 10/10 in our book.
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William Wood Watches Collections:
Triumph Collection
The Triumph Collection is William Wood Watches’ most prestigious watch. It’s made in Switzerland, with a chronograph SW510 Sellita Group Movement, and comes in three colors: Oxygen (blue), Fuel (white), and Heat (red).
The watch has subdials inspired by a fire engine’s dashboard, hands inspired by water pump gauges, antique brass plated chronograph buttons, and a one-of-a-kind fire alarm caseback.
The timepiece is packaged in a high-end fire alarm presentation box. It features a straps and cufflinks pocket that can be accessible by pulling the red emergency wire inside, and it stores up to three timepieces on the upper shelf.
Valiant Collection
The Valiant Collection is the most well-known collection, and it’s the first thing that comes to mind when people think of William Wood Watches.
This line comes in six distinct colors, and according on your budget and taste, you may pick between a Swiss-Made (around $1,250) or a Japanese-Made Automatic Movement.
The watch is water resistant to 100 meters, has a doubly domed sapphire crystal glass, a crown made from a melted-down 1920s British brass firefighter’s helmet, and straps fashioned from repurposed fire hose or fire kit material, among other characteristics. This fantastic watch comes in a luxurious red leather travel roll that can hold up to three timepieces.
Bronze Collection
The Bronze Collection watches come with a bronze casing – which is stronger than stainless steel.
Bronze watch casings are unique in that they age and patina over time when they are exposed to the elements. Your watch’s appearance will vary, both in terms of color and texture.
William Wood Watches carefully selected colors to complement the magnificent age-old bronze casing.
The 2 options:
- a rich burgundy ruby
- a royal sapphire blue
Chivalrous Collection
The Chivalrous Collection is a dress watch collection that comes in a variety of lovely colors, each with a luxurious Italian leather strap.
A rare limited edition commemorative coin crafted from an actual melted-down 1920s British brass firefighter’s helmet is inserted in the caseback of each Chivalrous Watch. The coin is engraved with a one-of-a-kind limited edition number ranging from 1-250, indicating that you are the proud owner of something really unique.
