Ghosttown Wild West
Sometimes you come across a watch so unique and interesting that it is difficult to let it go. These watches can be great due to fantastic specs or decades of brand heritage. They can also be great because they are completely different from the rest, because you’ll never be accused of wearing an homage, because they tell a story in a way that no other timepiece can.
The Old West by Ghosttown is the perfect example of a storytelling watch. You won’t buy this for the specifications, but if you enjoy wearing a unique piece of art, it might be the right choice for you.
It looks fantastic on wrist
DESIGN
This is a design-heavy watch. It is a delightfully weird and cool piece of art that is designed from the bottom up. Encased within a square case with rounded corners, you’ll find an old cowboy town. Complete with water tower, cacti, clouds, a horse and a saloon.
What happens inside the saloon, however, is what’s most interesting. A rotating disk displays 13 story frames, telling the complete love story of a cowboy who falls in love with a lady in red, day after day. Underneath the rounded date window at twelve, a cartoonified sun and moon blesses you with its AM/PM indication.
Adding to the wild west aesthetic, the second hand is shaped like a revolver, spinning, shooting mindlessly around, while keeping perfect time.
I dare say that at this price, you would be hard pressed to find a design more unique and well thought-out than this. This is a conversation piece, not only a timepiece.
STRAP/BRACELET
The Wild West comes supplied with two different strap options. One of which is an excellent heavy duty leather strap. The strap feels solid, while also being soft and pliable right out of the box. It is black with a brownish/orange stitching that perfectly matches the saloon on the watch dial. It has a rather large buckle, made from polished steel.
You can also purchase a very nice mesh bracelet with your watch. It has a sliding buckle for easy and tool free adjustment. The bracelet feels solid and well built, and is my preferred choice for the watch.
I do, however, believe that the 22mm lug width is a bit too wide for the 37mm case of the Wild West. Especially with the mesh bracelet, it becomes a bit overpowering. This is a design that relies on the intricate detail of the dial, perhaps it would be even better with a 20mm bracelet. Or at least a bracelet with a heavier taper.
It even looks good lying on its side
BUILD QUALITY
This is a $250 watch and I keep having to remind myself of this fact whenever I wear it. It just doesn't feel like it. And I mean that in the best way possible. All components feel excellently well put together without any jingle or rattle. You even get a beautiful piece of domed sapphire crystal, a screw down crown, and a simple but well made case. No complaints.
And it looks its very best up close
CONCLUSION
This isn’t necessarily the watch you buy for knowing what time it is (although it does that as well.) This is a piece of design and storytelling for your wrist. Unlike a famous painting that won’t do more than being beautiful, this is much more affordable, infinitely more wearable, and more alive.
I can wholeheartedly recommend the Ghosttown Wild West to anyone who enjoys the way it looks. I sure know i do.
