Baume Makes Watches With French Skateboarder From Skateboard Decks

Baume has collaborated with French skateboarder Aurélien Giraud on a recycled special edition watch made from skateboards.

The Aurélien Giraud Special Edition features a 42mm case made of skateboard decks supplied by Giraud as well as “production excesses” that were scheduled for destruction.

The cases are formed by cutting discs out of the plywood decks which are then sealed in resin to strengthen the material and make it airtight. A rotating disc at the center of the dial is then surfaced with the same grip tape found the deck of every skateboard, with the Baume brand name forming an hour hand while a skeletonized hand indicates the minutes.

Inside the watch, a blue anodized aluminum container clips into the casing, holding the SW200 automatic movement from Sellita in place and protecting it from impact shocks.

The watch is supplied with a cork-lined black cotton strap, secured to the watch’s black PVD lugs using Baume’s unique “interchangeable strap button system”.

Aurélien Giraud comments: “I am thrilled to work with a prestigious Maison like Baume & Mercier. From the start, I found the idea of reusing my used decks to a watchcase just amazing and so new! The usage of the grip on the dial is also very cool to me as we have the two main elements of the skate into the watch. It feels a bit like if I was taking a stroll with part of my skate onto my wrist as if it is were always on my side!”

Baume was launched in 2018 as an online only spin-off of Baume et Mercier, focused on younger designs and sustainable materials.

The Baume Aurélien Giraud Special Edition is out now via Baume et Mercier, priced $1,550 USD.

In other watch news, Audemars Piguet quietly releases salmon-dialled, titanium Royal Oak QP.