New Grand Rapids Watch Company Launches with John Ball Inspired Design

As someone who is always on the hunt for locally made items to gift to folks, I really love this. I’m especially thinking this could make an excellent present for someone who used to live here and moved away. Something that actually feels like Grand Rapids, not just something stamped with it.

Get our free mobile app

Did you know Grand Rapids now has its own watch company?

Grand Rapids Watch Company is a new local brand built around the idea of telling stories through time. Each watch is tied to a piece of West Michigan history, a local place, or a shared experience, and paired with a charitable donation connected to that story.

👇 BELOW: GRAND RAPIDS A TO Z - SEE THE MUST VISIT SPOTS AROUND THE CITY 👇

Founder Eddie White says the whole thing started after he built a watch as a gift for his dad. What began as a one-time personal project eventually grew into Grand Rapids Watch Company.

READ MORE: Ultimate Guide to Grand Rapids Area Farmers Markets

Their first design is already on sale. It’s called the John “Ball 40” watch, priced at $249.99. It honors John Ball, a major figure in early Grand Rapids history who helped shape public education and institutions in the region. He later donated 40 acres of land to the city, which became the foundation for what we now know as John Ball Park. The company is also donating $10 from every watch sold to the John Ball Zoo!

Another design inspired by Lake Michigan sunsets has already sold out at $299, which suggests there is real early interest in the concept.

White is already teasing what could come next. In a recent Instagram post, he hinted at another future watch inspired by a World War I icon, though full details have not been revealed yet.

Right now, Grand Rapids Watch Company is online only, but White says he would love to eventually open a physical storefront in the city if the brand continues to grow.

READ MORE: Asian Street-Food Restaurant Returns to Grand Rapids with 'Leveled-Up' Menu.

He even posted the concept on Reddit to get feedback from locals. Some of those community ideas were pretty great! People suggested future watches inspired by the Grand Rapids Public Museum, the old gypsum mines under Grand Rapids, and the Blue Bridge.

So I gotta ask, what kind of Grand Rapids-centric watches would you want to see next? Maybe this list of iconic spots around Grand Rapids will inspire you!