From iced-out chains to custom kicks, hip-hop has always had a hand in shaping what’s hot. However, one of the genre’s most enduring contributions to pop culture is how it made luxury watches more than just timepieces.
When Eric Heyward’s college roommate Randy Williams from Albany State University couldn’t find a watch that reflected his identity, the seed for Talley & Twine was planted. Now, over a decade later, the Black-owned watch company has grown from a grassroots Kickstarter campaign into a thriving brand with over 100,000 customers across the country and a message that resonates far beyond fashion.
Founded in 2014 by Williams, Talley & Twine began as a response to the lack of representation in traditional watch marketing. “We realized our community wasn’t being spoken to,” said Heyward, who serves as the company’s Chief Operating Officer and a co-owner when he joined formally in 2019.
“We make watches dope through our culture—music, movies, fashion—but we were missing from the narrative,” Heyward said.
That narrative is exactly what Talley & Twine set out to disrupt. From the beginning, the company emphasized authenticity and storytelling in its designs. Signature elements like the number seven—used on every watch—serve as reminders to “finish what you start,” while the brand’s name, Talley & Twine, originates from a once-neglected neighborhood in Portsmouth, Virginia.
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The first watch, a silver case with a white dial and bracelet, is no longer in regular circulation but occasionally returns for special releases. Since then, the company has evolved its catalog to include standout pieces like the Tuskegee Airmen watch—a tribute to the legendary group of African-American military pilots. Designed in collaboration with the Tuskegee Airmen Institute, a portion of the watch’s proceeds supports the organization’s work. “It’s a super dope watch,” Heyward said. “It honors legacy, perseverance, and Black excellence.”
Talley & Twine operates primarily in the fashion watch space, competing with brands like Fossil and Michael Kors. Still, its next move is bold: entering the automatic watch market with a Swiss-made timepiece. Designed with a Selita SW550 movement and crafted from titanium, the watch is slated for release in late 2025 with a projected price point of $2,500–$3,500.
“We’ve always been bootstrapped,” said Heyward. “The growth has been slower, but it’s made us more resilient. Now, we’re looking to be more aggressive—lean, nimble, and ready to seize opportunities.”
Looking ahead, Talley & Twine is not just focused on expansion, but on impact. “We want to continue doing things other brands can’t,” said Heyward. “From Juneteenth-inspired designs to telling our origin story—our goal is to be unapologetically us.”
To see Talley & Twine’s collection, visit: https://talleyandtwine.com/