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William Wood Fire Exit Man 41mm Mens Watch Green
Ref. WWFE01
William Wood began making watches as a tribute to the founder's late grandfather, a decorated British firefighter, and every design draws on that history in material terms rather than symbolic ones. The Fire Exit Man takes the idea further than most: the green dial is made from glass — genuinely transparent — so the day-date disc below is visible through it, and the hour markers are the directional arrow found on real exit signs, filled with C1 lume. The unidirectional bezel carries the same green as a standard fire exit sign, and the strap is cut from decommissioned British racing green fire hose bonded with rubber — worn rather than merely inspired. Designer Max Resnick shaped all of this into something that reads as coherent rather than costumed. The caseback is where the watch earns its name properly. The aperture is cut in the shape of a fire exit door, and through it a rotating disc runs an animation of the exit man in a different pose for each day of the week — Monday late for work, Friday unmistakably relieved. "Fire exit" is printed on the caseback in lume, which is the kind of detail that takes a second week to find. The Sellita SW220 driving it is functionally close to the ETA 2836 and needs no apology; it is a sound, well-supported movement that will be serviceable for decades.
- Reference
- WWFE01
- Brand
- William Wood
- Case size
- 41mm
- Case thickness
- 13.5mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Green
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Bezel
- Unidirectional rotating
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- ETA 2836
- Functions
- Day-date
- Water resistance
- 100m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Green
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 49.5mm
- Power reserve
- 41 hours
- Origin
- Swiss made
- Warranty
- 3 years
Learn more about William Wood
Jonny Garrett founded William Wood Watches in 2017 and named it after his grandfather, a firefighter who served twenty-five years with the Newcastle and Gateshead Fire Brigade at Pilgrim Street on Blue Watch. In June 1966 he and three colleagues were awarded a Certificate of Merit for rescuing five children from a house fire.
The materials carry the story rather than merely referencing it. The crown, and on the chronographs the pushers, are cast from a melted-down British brass firefighter's helmet of the 1920s. Straps are made from decommissioned fire hose used in real fires, in the colours of the services they came from — London Fire Brigade through to Sacramento.
The detailing runs deeper than most themed brands attempt. The Valiant diver takes its seconds track from the chequered markings on the side of a fire engine and its seconds hand from a vintage fire bell. The Triumph chronograph uses fire-engine dashboard dials and gauge hands, behind a caseback reading In Case Of Fire Break Glass. The Fire Exit model animates a running man across the day wheel.
Movements are Swiss, mostly Sellita SW220 and SW510. A donation from every sale goes to firefighting charities, among them The Fire Fighters Charity, the London Fire Brigade and the FDNY Foundation.
- 1966
- William Wood is decorated for rescuing five children from a fire.
- 2017
- Jonny Garrett founds the brand in his grandfather's name.
- 2019
- The Valiant diver establishes the collection.
- 2021
- The Triumph chronograph adds a Sellita SW510.
- 2024
- Stocked by Goldsmiths and Watches of Switzerland.
Also in 5 collections
This watch appears in Back in Stock (4,007), Stainless Steel Watches (2,833), Automatic Watches (1,417), Leather Strap Watches (904) and Green Dial Watches (392).
Temporarily out of stock
Mappin & Webb is not currently taking orders for this reference. Last listed as available on 26 September 2026. Stock is checked nightly and this page updates when it returns.
What the specifications mean
A mechanical watch for everyday wear.
Strengths
- 100m water resistance covers swimming and watersports
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
Worth knowing
- Leather does not suit regular contact with water
William Wood Fire Exit Man alternatives
Watches from other brands at a similar price, style and size, so you can see what else your budget can buy.
| Specification | WWFE01 | GMT-BLK-BLK-AQ | T1494621101100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,495 | £1,450 | £1,715 |
| Case size | 41mm | 40mm | 41mm |
| Water resistance | 100m | 100m | 100m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Stainless steel bracelet |
| Power reserve | 41 hours | 42 hours | — |
| This watch | Closely matched |
|
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 100m it is rated for swimming and snorkelling, though not for diving.
Water resistance explainedWill the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Sapphire, mineral and acrylic comparedDoes it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
Quartz, automatic and solar comparedHow long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 41 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 49.5mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16.5cm (6½ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
How to size a watch to your wristIs it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
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