Three lifelong friends shape the Ruhr Valley label Pottwatch: Lucas Heinen, Jason Sell, and Damian te Heesen grew up together in Oberhausen, surrounded by winding towers and blast furnaces. When coal mining ended in December 2018, it closed a chapter on the region's industrial past—the Prosper-Haniel colliery extracted its final load of "black gold." From this pivotal moment, Pottwatch was conceived: a watch brand that captures the distinctive character and spirit of the Ruhr. A successful crowdfunding campaign transformed the founders' vision into reality.

Since 2018, Heinen, Sell, and te Heesen have been bridging the Ruhr's past and future through their collections. The final coal extracted from Prosper-Haniel elevates each timepiece—a small piece of coal visible behind the sapphire crystal on the dial or caseback. Manufactured in Duisburg, these watches carry more than time; they carry the region's history on your wrist. Fitting names like Heimaterde and Grubenlicht underscore this heritage. Their newest collection, Metropolis, celebrates the Ruhr and honors the region's successful industrial transformation. The wristwatches bring coal into focus—prominently displayed on the dial. A Swiss quartz movement guides the hands along a carefully sketched path of the Ruhr River, which forms the design's centerpiece, cradled by coal. It's design that tells a story.

www.pottwatch.ruhr

Photography Credits:

Pottwatch

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 01|23)