Wooden Watch

How Walnut, Zebrawood and Bamboo Differ

Walnut, zebrawood and bamboo behave differently long before they age. Walnut is dark brown with a straight, quiet grain that suits a plain dial and dressier clothes. Zebrawood carries strong dark stripes on a golden ground, so no two bezels look alike and the wood itself is the pattern. Bamboo is the palest and is botanically a grass; its bezels combine several tones side by side for a lighter, more casual look. Walnut, already dark, shows the least change over time, bamboo shows the most, and zebrawood sits between.

• Walnut, dark and quiet. A straight grain for dressier wear.
• Zebrawood, bold stripes. A pattern that makes each bezel unique.
• Bamboo, pale and mixed. Several tones on one bezel for a lighter look.

Cleaning a Wood Bezel

Wood on a watch needs less care than most people expect. A soft dry cloth after wear removes skin oil and dust before they build up, and a barely damp cloth handles anything stickier, followed by a dry one. Skip household cleaners, alcohol wipes and polish sprays, because they strip the finish that protects the wood and leave it dull or blotchy. Wood that looks flat usually just needs another minute with the dry cloth, since the sheen comes back with buffing.

• A dry cloth after wear. Skin oil comes off before it settles into the grain.
• Damp, then dry. Sticky marks lift with a barely wet cloth.
• No cleaners or sprays. Solvents leave the wood dull and blotchy.

Perfume, Sun and Water

Three things age a wooden watch faster than wear. Perfume and cologne carry alcohol that can dull the finish, so let them dry before the watch goes on. Strong sun lightens some woods and darkens others, and a watch left on a sunny windowsill for weeks changes color on one side only. Water is the third: a splash is fine, but a wooden watch belongs off the wrist for dishes, showers and swimming. Keep those three at a distance and the wood ages evenly from the wrist, which is the patina worth having.

• Scent before the watch. Let perfume dry so alcohol never meets the wood.
• No sunny windowsills. One-sided sun gives a one-sided color.
• Off for water. Dishes, showers and pools come after the watch comes off.

A Wooden Watch as a Gift

Search interest in wooden watches climbs every November and December, when they are bought as gifts, and they are an easy present to get right. The look is distinctive without being loud, and a quartz movement means the recipient never has to wind it. Pick walnut for someone who dresses conservatively, zebrawood for someone who likes a conversation piece, and bamboo for someone who lives in casual clothes. The bamboo watch page explains how bamboo differs from wood, and the leather strap watch page covers choosing between black and brown.

• Walnut for classic tastes. A quiet wood for a conservative wardrobe.
• Zebrawood for a talking point. Stripes that get noticed and asked about.
• Bamboo for casual wear. The lightest look for everyday clothes.