Meet JORD: Comparing the best wood watches on the market

There are few watch brands that make wood watches with such quality and style such as Jord Wood Watches. Watch enthusiasts generally prefer watch brands that do not produce something that everyone has.

All of Jord’s watches are made up of a mix of specially selected natural and reclaimed wood and backed up by a story. They also inform you about the place from which the wood materials were retrieved.

In this review, we’ll be taking a look at how two of Jord’s high-end models compare to each other, the JORD Dover and the JORD Meridian.

Case Detailing

Let’s get started with the case detailing and design. The JORD Dover comes standard with a 42mm wide and 12mm thick case. The Meridian is a big boy compared to the Dover, measuring in at 45mm wide and 15.65mm thick. It definitely offers more wrist presence, and might not exactly slide under a cuff.

Both the Meridian and the Dover are offered in 5 different case material and detailing options with wood options such as Ebony, Acacia, Rosewood, Zebrawood, Sandalwood and other exotic woods. In addition to these woods, they also incorporate some other materials such as Copper, white marble and black Marquina to create some exciting visuals.

All JORD’s watch cases are water-resistant up to 30m, meaning they are splash proof but should not be submerged in water to avoid damage. They also advise on using Lemon or orange oil extract to clean the natural wood.

The case designs of both watches are quite different from each other. The Meridian features a notched steel bezel, an integrated steel case, and a screw down located at the usual 3 o’clock position, while the Dover features a bezel with minute markings and some fine wool detailing around the edges. Its screw down crown is located at the 10 o’clock position.

Over the Meridian’s dial you will find a slightly domed sapphire crystal glass which made the watch tall and certainly noticeable. One thing I appreciated most in the Meridian against the Dover is how the case is perfectly fused between the steel bezel and the base without necessarily causing a distraction in the watch’s appearance.

The Dover on the other hand isn’t nearly as protruding as the Meridian, and came off as a less bulky substitute. It presents itself as a bit more of a modern-sporty watch than the Meridian, thanks to its flat sapphire crystal glass. 

I must not fail to mention how awesome the cedar humidor presentation boxes are.

Dial and Hands

Moving on to the dial, the second most interesting part of both watches (the first is the case finishing). I particularly like the legibility and boldness written on the face of the Dover. It features a full skeletonized design showcasing the intricate mechanics of the watch movement.

The contrasting colors of the inner dial, the outer dial, and the sword-shaped hands make the watch face pop, especially in the light. The Arabic numerals hour markers protruding against the sunken dial gives it a three-dimensional appearance that offers legibility as well as some shine.

The Meridian’s dial is separated into two sections with the upper section featuring a polished surface, applied hour markers, a power reserve dial and the Jord logo embossed at the 12 o’clock position. The lower section of the dial features a serrated material finish and the dual wheel of the self-winding automatic movement.

Both dials have their strong and weak points. However, the importance of legibility in a watch that you’ll use for a long time cannot be overemphasized. If you need a watch with a more masculine presence, the Dover will be a good option. On the other hand, if you need a watch that just blends in and simple enough so as not to get you overly distracted, the Meridian will be the best fit.

JORD In-House Mechanical Movement VS The Sea-Gull Movement

Inside the Jord Dover is the Sea-Gull TY2807 movement while the Meridian is powered by the JORD JHLS32 Mechanical movement.

Comparing both movements with each other, the Sea-Gull TY2807 is a self-winding automatic movement oscillating at 21,600 BPH. It has 21 jewels and a power reserve of about 36 hours. The JORD JHLS32 Mechanical movement is also a self-winding movement operating at 21,600 BPH. It has a power reserve of about 40hours and features a stunning 47 jewels.

Seagull states that the TY2807 keeps accuracy within +/- 3 seconds per day while Jord states that its JHLS32 Mechanical movement keeps accuracy within +/- 40 seconds per day which is quite saddening when comparing the price tags attached to both watches housing these movements. JORD chose this movement in order to provide time-keeping of reasonable accuracy but exceptional durability while also keeping in mind the affordability of the watch.

While Jord’s movements have not yet reached the standards of Miyota and Swiss movements, they do have the goal of reaching these levels as they improve their offerings.

Final Thoughts

A wooden timepiece can easily look cheap and inferior if not properly designed and manufactured. No doubt, Jord watches stand out among other wood watch brands in terms of style and craftsmanship.

I can say right off the bat, both the Jord Meridian and Jord Dover actually look great, and it’ll be quite a difficult task to select one over the other. They both make a statement and show extraordinary woodworking. However, I’ll go for the Jord Meridian as it gives a more subtle and classy feel than the Dover. Its major downside is its timekeeping precision which poses a significant disadvantage against the Dover’s Sea-Gull TY2807.

If you prefer a watch that wears more boldly and offers sheer contrast and legibility, the Jord Dover fits well into this category. It all depends on personal preferences.

To have a look at all of JORDS offerings you can visit their official website here.