Ten things people ask most.
Gebauer Watches is a watch brand based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, founded by Liam Gebauer in 2026. The watches feature real wood dials and are assembled in Japan. The first edition is limited to 300 watches total: 250 American Cherry and 50 Ebony.
Liam Gebauer founded Gebauer Watches in 2026 when he was 14, after buying his first watch in Milan and finding nothing comparable for other teens. He runs the brand, designs the watches, and writes the content. The company is based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
No. Gebauer Watches is an independent brand based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, founded by Liam Gebauer. Marc Gebauer is a separate person, a Swiss-based watch reviewer and retailer. There is no affiliation between the two.
Two variants, and they both cost the same. $339 on Kickstarter. American Cherry starts pale and darkens to a deep reddish brown within months. Ebony is dense and deep. Both woods are the same price so the choice is about which one you want, not what it costs. Each dial is naturally one of one because no two pieces of wood are identical. Each dial is naturally one of one because no two pieces of wood share the same grain.
Watches are assembled and inspected in Japan by a Japanese watchmaker, with strict Japanese quality control at every stage. The Seiko VH31 movement inside each watch is Japanese. Packaging is made in northern Italy. Each watch uses a sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, a 316L stainless steel case (39mm) with a butterfly clasp, and 5 ATM water resistance.
The first edition is 300 watches total. 250 American Cherry and 50 Ebony. Each watch is individually numbered within its wood variant (for example, EBONY 012 / 050). Numbers are reserved personally rather than auto-assigned. The cherry is a one-time edition and will not be repeated.
Samples are in progress. The Kickstarter campaign launches early 2027. Watches ship to backers later in 2027. To get notified at launch or to reserve a specific number, see the reserve page.
Seiko VH31 meca-quartz. The seconds hand ticks four times a second instead of once, so it sweeps rather than steps, while keeping quartz accuracy and needing no winding.
Built for milestone gifting, typically for someone aged 13 to 25. The buyer is usually a parent or family member. The recipient is the person marking a moment that matters: graduation, 16th birthday, confirmation, coming of age.
Liam writes a daily founder log at gebauerwatches.substack.com. It covers what is actually happening as the brand gets built.