Luxury Olive Wood & Leather Watch Case

This Luxury Olive Wood Watch Case was a bespoke commission by Lombard Bespoke for one of our esteemed clients. Crafted in partnership with my friend Grant Wood, a master carpenter and accomplished designer and builder.

The solid wooden case was fashioned from both Walnut and 100-year-old olive trees, personally felled by Grant at his olive farm in the Paarl, Cape Town — located high up on the mountain below the Du Toitskloof Pass.

Specific sections of the aged olive trees were selected for their distinctive distress wood markings, reflecting the trees' age. Unlike younger olive wood, which is more uniform in tone, old-growth olive wood has branches large enough for carpentry and carries a depth and contrast that cannot be sourced by the meter — even from specialty wood retailers.

Preliminary sketch and design concept of the bespoke wooden watch case.

Grant completed the woodwork in his studio while I handled the leather cladding and detailing in my Wellington studio — just a few kilometres apart in the same valley. The collaboration was seamless.

We undertook this project over six months, progressing in stages as the design developed — beginning with the exquisite olive drawer that Grant initially crafted. At times we had to wait for imported solid brass hardware and fittings from the USA and the UK, as well as for bevelled glass to be precisely cut.

The leatherwork style chosen involves full-grain goat leather, hand-stained to create tonal depth and a worn-in, characterful appearance — rather than a modern, monotone finish. To catch the eye, I hand-stitched a baseball-stitch pattern on the sides of the case with thick cream thread, giving it a more masculine feel.

A mid-brown leather was selected after presenting the client with a colour swatch — it best complemented the warm tones of the olive wood.

The watch compartment is lined with padded biscuit suede leather for the base, protecting even the most precious timepieces.

The case displays up to 8 timepieces through a bevelled glass lid. It also features a solid olive wood drawer compartment for storing additional watch straps, small tools, and more.

All woods are solid timber — not veneered. The case is intentionally heavy, evoking the feel of traditional woodwork construction. The lid opens with dual release catch buttons, designed to prevent easy access by guests or children.

Starting from $3,000 USD / R50,000 ZAR for custom commission work.

Production lead time: 4–6 months. Enquire below for a quote.