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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, with 100 of each of three wood variants: Hinoki, Black Ebony, and African Padauk.
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.
Three variants. Hinoki ($299) is Japanese cypress with a pale gold grain. Black Ebony ($339) is dense and deep. African Padauk ($375) starts fiery orange and deepens to burgundy over years. 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. 100 Hinoki, 100 Black Ebony, 100 African Padauk. Each watch is individually numbered within its wood variant (for example, EBONY 012 / 100). Numbers are reserved personally rather than auto-assigned.
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. It pairs the accuracy of a quartz movement with the sweeping seconds-hand motion of a mechanical watch.
Built for milestone gifting for young men, typically aged 13 to 25. The buyer is usually a parent or family member. The recipient is the young man 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.