On a new release calendar that’s full of limited edition collaborations that don’t always make a ton of logical sense, it’s refreshing to see one come across our desks that feels like a genuine meeting of the minds. Oak & Oscar is a longtime fixture in the micro/independent brand space, and at this point it’s fair to say that they’ve carved out a pretty recognizable niche for themselves. When you think of Oak & Oscar, you probably immediately think of the brand’s midwest roots, a love of the outdoors, and, of course, bourbon. Their latest release, a 50 piece limited collaboration with the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, combines at least two of these ideas, and the result is a handsome, sporty GMT that first right in Oak & Oscar’s wheelhouse. 

For context, the St. Louis County Rescue Squad is made up of volunteers who provide lifesaving services to outdoor enthusiasts visiting northern Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). As Oak & Oscar explains, the BWCA is an “outdoor-lover’s dream,” featuring hiking trails, camping, canoeing, and more. Oak & Oscar became a member of the Boundary Waters Business Coalition in 2021, a sign of their commitment to the preservation of the BWCA. To that end, the new Humboldt GMT SAR Edition serves as a reminder of that commitment, as well as a means to help fund the efforts of the St. Louis County Rescue Squad (a portion of the proceeds from the sale of these watches will be donated to the Squad). 

This new limited edition Humboldt GMT takes the standard version and tweaks it in certain areas to make it more appropriate for a SAR (search and rescue) application. First and foremost, the SAR Edition makes use of a titanium case, which of course is lighter than steel and an easier wearing experience, particularly for rescue workers who are naturally balancing a lot of additional gear in the field. The 24 hour bezel has been replaced with a compass bezel (in ceramic), which one imagines could have real and practical applications in an outdoor rescue situation. The Humboldt GMT SAR Edition is also mounted to a high visibility orange rubber strap and has a high contrast dial with crisp white numerals and markers against a dark blue dial, all the better for legibility in a variety of situations, life threatening or not. The new LE has all of the same robust qualities as any Oak & Oscar watch, including 200 meters of water resistance and anti-shock and anti-magnetic properties. 

The idea of a “rescue timer” has been explored in watchmaking before, most notably perhaps through Sinn’s EZM series of “mission timers” made for various German special forces teams (helicopter police, SWAT teams, Autobahn physicians, and more). I’m a fan of this style of highly specific watch design, and think watches like the Humboldt seen here can be just as easily enjoyed by enthusiasts well outside the world of the brave men and women who do these difficult jobs, and appreciated mainly for the novelty of their design. In other words, it’s not important, in my view, whether or not the St. Louis County Rescue Squad is actually wearing these watches when they come to find you when you’re lost in the woods. What’s important is that Oak & Oscar made the watch at all, putting a spotlight on a group that is doing difficult and important work and recontextualizing a core watch in their collection along the way. 

In terms of specs, the Humboldt GMT SAR Edition is equipped with a Sellita SW330 automatic movement with “caller” style GMT functionality and a 56 hour power reserve. The case measures a tidy 39.5mm in diameter with a bezel that overhangs just slightly, bringing the functional diameter to an even 40mm (the case is 12.5mm thick and 46.8mm from lug to lug). As mentioned, the bi-diretional bezel is now in ceramic, which has a fairly dramatic impact on the aesthetic of the watch overall compared to the steel bezel found in the standard version. 

The Humboldt GMT SAR Edition is available beginning today at a retail price of $2,350. Oak & Oscar