McKardy Kelly
2024 Rodeo Queen - Utah
custom 36mm Turquoise piece with tooled leather strap
To most, a watch is just a collection of gears and glass. But for those of us who work with our hands, we know that machines are living entities. They have a pulse. They have a soul.
This custom 36mm piece was engineered specifically for McKardy Kelly, Miss Rodeo Utah 2024. It is a watch designed to reflect the grit and grace of a National Champion, where every technical detail serves a narrative of heritage.
The soul of this build is a dial sliced from genuine turquoise, cut to a thickness of mere fractions of a millimeter. Because it is raw stone, the natural veining is a unique thumbprint; no two dials will ever be the same. This natural heart is housed in 316L stainless steel and protected by a sapphire crystal that I hand-press into the frame to ensure a perfect, high-tolerance fit.
A champion’s watch requires more than just assembly; it requires calibration. I regulate each movement by hand, a tedious process to ensure near-perfect timekeeping, and pressurize every case for total water resistance. The build is finished with a tooled leather band, where the individual reaction of the dye to the hide ensures that the strap is as one-of-a-kind as the woman wearing it.
Inspired by the ride and built for the arena, this isn't a mass-produced accessory. It is a piece of custom engineering with a Western heart, built by hand, one beat at a time.
To most, a watch is just a collection of gears and glass. But for those of us who work with our hands, we know that machines are living entities. They have a pulse. They have a soul.
This custom 36mm piece was engineered specifically for McKardy Kelly, Miss Rodeo Utah 2024. It is a watch designed to reflect the grit and grace of a champion, where every technical detail serves a narrative of heritage.
The soul of this build is a dial sliced from genuine turquoise, cut to a thickness of mere fractions of a millimeter. Because it is raw stone, the natural veining is a unique thumbprint; no two dials will ever be the same. This natural heart is housed in 316L stainless steel and protected by a sapphire crystal that I hand-press into the frame to ensure a perfect, high-tolerance fit.
A champion’s watch requires more than just assembly; it requires calibration. I regulate each movement by hand, a tedious process to ensure near-perfect timekeeping, and pressurize every case for total water resistance. The build is finished with a tooled leather band, where the individual reaction of the dye to the hide ensures that the strap is as one-of-a-kind as the woman wearing it.
Inspired by the ride and built for the arena, this isn't a mass-produced accessory. It is a piece of custom engineering with a Western heart, built by hand, one beat at a time.