Watch Box with Drawer

This watch box measures about 11.25" x 7.25" x 4.75" and features 8 slots for watches, along with a bottom drawer for various items. I utilized small off-cuts of Koa wood that I obtained in Kauai, HI, a few years back, and made the most of each piece to minimize waste, as Koa wood is rare due to its status as a protected species.

In this project, I experimented with two new techniques: 1) a drawer face with mitered edges and 2) double splines. Typically, watch boxes with drawers utilize butt joints, which can affect the piece's overall aesthetic and limit joinery options. Instead, I opted for mitered corners with a mitered drawer face that integrates seamlessly with the double splines used to reinforce the miters. The splines consist of a larger Maple spline, approximately 3/8", with an additional 1/8" spline made from Koa inlaid into it.

The top is crafted from a sheet of glass that I cut to the required dimensions, and each section of the box is divided by a piece of 1/8" plywood. For the drawer, I chose traditional wood slides, which I cut on the table saw, due to space limitations that made standard hardware impractical. I upgraded the hinges to inlaid ones that open 90°, which presented challenges like splitting when chiseling out the recess for the hinge because the panels are quite thin. Additionally, I selected a solid metal and plated brass clasp.

I applied a single coat of Tried & True, a beeswax-linseed oil finish, that dramatically accentuated the natural chatoyancy that Koa wood is known for.