Even if you detest golf, you probably know that the Ryder Cup 2010 teed off yesterday at the Celtic Manor Resort course in Wales ….. before the rain sent the players back to the clubhouse and play was halted for the day.  Both teams read like a who’s who in the game, and this tournament unlike most others is played for honour not money.  I’m not smitted by the game, but I have to admit that the Ryder Cup is something special and it got me thinking about the ultimate golf accessory – the Golf Watch.

The best known is probably the TAG Heuer Professional Golf Watch, a slim square-cased piece which Tiger Woods helped design, and of course market.  But today I will focus instead on a lesser-known brand,  Jaermann & Stübi, experts in the creation of small series specialised watches for golfers.

The latest release from Jaermann & Stübi is the Seve Ballesteros II.  As the name suggests this is the second watch produced in collaboration with the legendary player and its dial and presentation box in his honour are an eye-pleasing dark blue, the Spaniard’s favourite colour.

The Jaermann & Stübi Seve Ballesteros II

Jaermann Stübi use Soprod Calibre A10 movements which they modify to suit their needs.  This one features a course timer and GMT function, ergonomic design with the pusher located at 2 o’clock and crown at 4 o’clock and of course shock absorbing abilities with a patented flexible stem system.  However it doesn’t really matter what this watch can do – even if it didn’t display time at all, golfers would still want one, even if it was so aesthetically challenged that you would want to keep your glove on long after the game had ended this would still be the watch you’d put on your wish list, why?……because the watchcase of each piece in the series is made from the melted down golf clubs of the man himself.  The last tournament which Seve Ballesteros won before he became ill was the 1995 Spanish Open.  The putting wedge, sand wedge and irons 2 to 9 which Seve used during the tournament have been divided into portions and melted – a cast piece was taken from each club so that each watch can be matched to whichever club was used in its construction, a detail which will be appreciated by fans of the player.

Fifty pieces of the Jaermann & Stübi Seve Ballestreros II will be made.  Each individually numbered piece will also be engraved on the caseback with the details of the club used in its creation and will include a certificate of authenticity signed by the player.

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