William Wood Watches, established in London in 2016, is named for founder Jonny Garrett’s late grandfather, a distinguished 25-year veteran of the British Fire Service. The watches pay tribute to their namesake, and firefighting culture in general, in ways that go far beyond the name, standing out from the crowded pack of luxury sport watches by their use of upcycled firefighting materials in their design construction. We had a chance to examine up close the Black Watch from the British brand’s Valiant dive watch collection.

The case of the Valiant model is 41 mm in diameter and made of stainless steel. William Wood offers two versions differentiated only by their movements, both self-winding mechanicals: either a Japanese Seiko NH35 or a Swiss Sellita SW200. My review watch was outfitted with the Swiss movement, which is visible behind a sapphire caseback. The sapphire crystal in the front of the watch, covering the dial, is double domed and treated with a subtle blue tint. The case’s sober, satin finished surfaces attest to the watch’s tool-oriented design, as does its water-resistance to 100 meters.
On the case’s fluted, screw-down crown, you’ll discover the first of several examples of sustainability in concert with the firefighting-tribute theme: Its surface features a medallion made from melted down London Fire Brigade brass helmet from the 1920s. This decorative piece is crafted in Hatton Garden, London’s famed ...