Picture Perfect

It took Mathew White, B.S. '13, two years to reveal his line of luxury watches to his parents, whose own fathers had inspired the company's ethos. It wasn't because he wasn't sure how they'd react-he just wanted everything to be perfect.

"I spent almost two years designing our first model, having it produced, starting my business, and officially launching the sale of it with only a few people in the know-my wife and kids, who promised not to tell anyone," White says. "Looking back, I did this because I was venturing into unknown territory and didn't want to share it with too many people until I knew it was going to succeed."

A surgical assistant by trade, White's journey to watch design started in a roundabout way when he was a kid. Whether he was building forts in the woods, crafting small boats in his dad's workshop or designing new ways to string his lacrosse stick, he says, he found joy in making something with his hands. So when Covid made his already stressful job even more so, he looked for a creative outlet to calm his busy mind. He decided to make his dad a watch.

He already had some experience with 3D printing, having designed a theoretical implant to combat complications from urological surgery as a capstone project at GW, so he got to work designing the components.

"What began as a fun side project turned into something more serious as I realized I had a dial design that I really liked," he says. "That design needed hands, a case, and before I knew it, I was reaching out to manufacturers."

Eventually, he turned his watch-designing hobby into Richard-Harvey Watch Company, named for his Navy veteran grandfathers, Richard and Harvey. White says when he started the business, he envisioned an initial series of watches inspired by navigation. Accordingly, the Attitude (the first model in the line) incorporates design elements that evoke the look of an attitude indicator (the instrument in a pilot's cockpit that shows the true horizon), needles on a cockpit gauge and propellers.

"Releasing our aviation-inspired model first was, in a way, a nod to Harvey, who served as an air combat controlman during World War II," White says. The Attitude model comes in two colorways: the Patriot Edition, with its vibrant red, white and blue dial (a bestseller and White's personal favorite), and the Blackout Edition, "which has a more subdued, tactical look."

But what did his parents think?

"I presented my mom [Richard's daughter] with a Patriot Edition and my dad [Harvey's son] with a Blackout Edition-both serial No. 001," White says. "They couldn't believe it and thought it was so cool. The tie-in and incorporating the names of their fathers into the business was the cherry on top. I recall that moment vividly."

White says he's been at work on the company's next model for a year now, balancing the project with his career in health care and raising a family. ("I'm taking my time to ensure it's perfect, rather than rushing to release something just to stay relevant," he says.) In the meantime, he's handcrafting leather watch bands. Gotta keep the hands busy.

For 15 percent off at rhwatchco.com , use code GWFAM.