AKRON, Ohio — Step inside Alex Draven’s studio, and you enter a world where time itself is crafted, piece by meticulous piece. The jeweler and watchmaker doesn’t rely on machines—only raw metal, a handful of tools, and a relentless drive to create something entirely new.
Draven, who has spent years honing his craft, describes his work as “blacksmithing but very small.” His watches and jewelry are sculpted from sheets of metal and wire, with every detail formed by hand. The result? Exquisite, one-of-a-kind timepieces and accessories that blend Art Deco elegance with steampunk grit, each infused with his singular vision.
But that vision isn’t drawn from other watchmakers. “I don’t ever really look at jewelry or watches for inspiration,” Draven says. “I pull heavily from Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and industrial design. I sat down last night to work on a commission and ended up designing a watch based on a 1920s elevator.”
That kind of creative rabbit hole is familiar territory. Draven’s pieces begin as abstract sketches, swirls, and shapes waiting to find their form. “I’m not just saying, ‘Okay, I’m going to design a watch today,’” he explains. “I start with a scribble, and then it evolves.”
A Life Built by Hand
The meticulous, labor-intensive nature of Draven’s work sets him apart in an era of mass production. Each watch strap begins as a raw sheet of leather, hand-cut and dyed. Every metal component is hand-forged. It’s a slow process, one that demands both patience and resilience.
“If I get bored with something, I change it,” he says. “If it’s not exciting, I don’t want to make it.” That drive for reinvention means even his most popular designs don’t stay in rotation forever. “I might have some returning pieces, but they’re going to be different,” he notes. “So if you see something you like, buy it. Because once it’s gone, it’s gone.”
But the work takes a toll. When asked about the challenges of his craft—physical, mental, emotional—Draven doesn’t sugarcoat it. “Every step of the way, there’s frustration and joy, kind of balancing each other out,” he admits. “I’m in here swearing at myself all day.”
Yet, for all its demands, the work is also his refuge. “I didn’t work well with managers or authority,” he says with a laugh. “When I had a ‘real job,’ I’d come home at night and work on my pieces until five in the morning. This is my life, and I need to do whatever it takes to keep it.”
The Highs and Lows of the Art World
Draven’s pieces sell out quickly, but making a living as an independent artist isn’t easy. The world of juried art shows is unpredictable—applications cost money, travel expenses add up, and there’s no guarantee of acceptance.
“You apply in December, and then you wait,” he says. “Sometimes you get accepted to one show but are holding out hope for another. What if you don’t get into either? That weekend you planned on making income is suddenly empty.”
This year, he’s scaling back on shows, opting for quality over quantity. “I’m only doing about one a month,” he says. “The big one on the books so far is at Boston Mills Ski Resort this summer.” He keeps his website updated with new events, but for those who can’t make it in person, online orders remain an option.
Still, nothing compares to seeing a customer’s face light up when they hold one of his creations in their hands. “That’s my connection to the real world,” he says. “When I just ship something out, I wonder—did they like it? But at a show, I get to see them gush over it, and that keeps me going.”
A Year of Evolution
Draven isn’t one to rest on past successes. “Every piece I make, I have to outdo the last one,” he says. “This year, I’m going hard—new designs, new displays, new product photos. It’s an all-new level-up year.”
A big part of that evolution is a new storytelling project he’s planning: a series of posts showcasing not just the finished product, but the creative sparks behind each design. “People always ask, ‘Where did you come up with this?’” he says. “For example, my Dirigible Watch was inspired by a photograph of a turbine overlapping a chain-link fence. My Verdigris Metro watch came from a famous photo of an old French subway station.”
The connections may not be obvious, but that’s the beauty of Draven’s mind—seeing the world differently, and shaping those visions into tangible, wearable art.
“I have a long list of things to do,” he admits, “but I’m excited.”
For those lucky enough to catch him at a show this year, the message is clear: If you love a piece, don’t hesitate. Because just like the fleeting moments of inspiration that spark his designs, once they’re gone, they may never come back.