Lethbridge watchmaker creates pieces using historic metal

A 133-year-old piece of metal has transformed into the face of a watch.

Steve Christensen is the watchmaker in Lethbridge who came up with the idea for timepieces that use re-purposed material.  He started a business that handcrafts each watch, creating one-of-a-kind timepieces.

“At the back of my classes throughout university, I just started drawing and figuring out how this all could work.”

Six years ago, Christensen began by getting his watch designs manufactured in China. But recently, his business changed direction.

“The reclaimed world is big, it’s interesting, and I thought: ‘What if we could take something, a piece of metal or whatever, a historical piece of material, and make it into a watch?’

“That would be really, really cool.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "That would be really, really cool."

His newest endeavor? A watch made from a piece of a local rail line.

“We got to take something built in 1884 by a company in Wales… they made this piece of rail, they sent it over here and it was an instrumental part of mine No. 8. which is a big part of Lethbridge’s coal mining history. ”

Except for the Swiss-made timepiece, everything down to the leather strap and shipping materials is locally sourced. The box it’s shipped in is crafted with old barn wood and has a story of its own.

“[This piece of metal] has a great story that we’re able to re-tell but then to re-purpose it, take it out of retirement… and give it to somebody to wear on their wrist? For us, that’s incredible!

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "[This piece of metal] has a great story that we're able to re-tell but then to re-purpose it, take it out of retirement… and give it to somebody to wear on their wrist? For us, that's incredible!

“I’m not sure how many others would share that enthusiasm but we think it’s amazing!”

Christensen says it doesn’t stop with train tracks and he’s on the lookout for historic tanks or airplanes to re-purpose next.

“Watches have always been, for most people, a conversation piece. The conversation with NOVO, we’re going to raise that to a whole new level.”

In the meantime, he hopes to watch the parts of history he’s re-purposing continue to stand the test of time.

“For us, it never ends. There’s stories to be told and we’ll find those things and we’ll make them into a watch for people to wear and that… I think will last forever.”