It seems an odd name for a watch—Whiskey Espresso—until you discover that the elegant timepiece from Original Grain is actually made using wood from repurposed bourbon barrels. A recycled wood watch may already be a surprise, but the company, founded by brothers Ryan and Andrew Beltran, also plants a tree for each one sold. Not only that, but it also raises money to support veteran causes with watches made from reclaimed military equipment.
The Military Stonewashed Chrono 44mm, made with reclaimed ammo wood crates; $349 at OriginalGrain.com (Courtesy of Original Grain)
The Beltran brothers started with a couple hundred specially designed watches and a couple of Kickstarter campaigns, and they turned it all into a multi-million-dollar watch brand. “The story really starts back in 2011, when I decided to go to Hong Kong to pursue my dream of starting a fashion brand,” says Ryan in a video on their website. He came across wooden watches, and they gave him an idea. At the time, Andrew was serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, and while returning from deployment, he stopped in Hong Kong for R&R. Ryan showed him the product, and it reminded them both of their childhood in Oregon, where they spent a lot of time outdoors. Inspired, they got to work….