I've followed Sheffield since I first covered the brand's QL1 Yellow charity release for Multiple Sclerosis, and I've never hidden that I think charity watches only work when the giving is transparent and meaningful. Sheffield's newest release, Brian's Sheffield, checks that box in a big way: it's a special-edition chronograph built to honor Brian LaViolette, with $100 from every sale going to the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation, which has now awarded more than 1,200 scholarships in Brian's name.
If that name sounds familiar, it's because I've covered this cause before with the Islander Journey BDL77, which donated 100% of its purchase price to the same foundation. Brian was just four years old when he got his first watch, a Green Bay Packers timepiece, and eleven years later his life was cut short in a swimming accident. His family turned grief into a promise to do great things in his name, and more than 30 years later that promise has become a scholarship fund that's changed over a thousand lives.
Brian's Sheffield First Impressions
Sheffield founder Jay Turkbas was introduced to the LaViolette Foundation by longtime family friend and acclaimed watch photographer Ty Alexander, who also designed the watch's dial. The striking green sunburst finish with gold seconds and subdial hands is a subtle nod to Brian's first watch, that Packers piece that started it all. It's a thoughtful design choice: rather than slapping a foundation logo across the dial, Sheffield built the tribute into the watch's actual color story. In person, I found it to be very attractive. The green is very deep and vibrant, and the silver subdials and polished, applied markers give it beautiful reflections.
Brian's Sheffield Details
Brian's watch starts with Sheffield's Chono II case. In addition to the aforementioned new colors, the Laviolette foundation logo is printed on the dial at 6 o'clock.
The 24-hour and 60-minute subdials are recessed and feature a grooved machine finish. Black markings are printed on top, making the subdials very legible.
A silver tachymeter scale sits around the outside of the dial, with 5-minute markings inside.
The steel case is fully polished, as are the pump pushers and signed, screw-down crown.
Wearing the Brian's Sheffield
Sheffield's chronograph platform sits comfortably in the sweet spot without feeling oversized. At 40mm in diameter with a 48mm lug-to-lug and a 13mm profile, the Brian's chrono will fit well on any average-sized or larger wrist.
Long, fairly straight lugs give the case a classic racing chronograph look.
100 meters of water resistance means you don't have to baby it, and a sapphire crystal with AR coating resists scratches and offers a great view of that beautiful dial.
The hour and minute hands are fully polished, while the chronograph hands are yellow.
Swiss lume fills the hour and minute hands, as well as the arrow tip on the chronograph seconds, making it easy to check the time after dark.
Strap and Replacement Straps for the Brian's Sheffield
Brian's Sheffield ships on a black quick-release FKM rubber strap, a practical choice for a sport chronograph that holds up well to daily wear. It is quick-release, but the drilled 20mm lugs make it easy to swap other straps without tools.
Brian's Sheffield Movement
Power comes from the Seiko VK64 mecha-quartz chronograph movement, a hybrid caliber that pairs quartz-level accuracy and reliability with a smooth-sweeping seconds hand and instant reset you'd normally only get from a mechanical chronograph. It's a smart choice for a watch built to be worn and enjoyed rather than fussed over, and it keeps the price accessible without sacrificing the chronograph experience.
The movement sits underneath a solid stainless steel caseback engraved with the foundation's logo and watch specifications.
Conclusion
Brian's Sheffield succeeds on two fronts. As a watch, it's a well-specced chronograph with a sapphire crystal, 100m water resistance, and a mecha-quartz movement, all for $258. As a tribute, it honors Brian LaViolette's memory without being heavy-handed. The green-and-gold dial tells the story quietly rather than shouting it, and the logo is a subtle additional touch. Combined with a guaranteed $100 donation per watch to a foundation that's already awarded over 1,200 scholarships, it's an easy one to recommend if you're looking for a chronograph with genuine meaning behind it.
To learn more about Sheffield, visit the brand's site here. To learn more about Brian's story and the foundation his family built in his memory, visit laviolettefoundation.org.
Brian's Sheffield Specifications:
Name: Sheffield Brian's Sheffield Chronograph
MSRP: $258
Case Material: 316L Stainless Steel
Diameter: 40mm
Lug to Lug: 48mm
Thickness: 13mm
Lug Width: 20mm (drilled)
Movement: Seiko VK64 MecaQuartz Chronograph
Accuracy: +/- 1 second/day
Water Resistance: 100m / 10 ATM
Crystal: Sapphire with anti-glare coating
Lume: Swiss (hands)
Crown: Screw-down (top button: start/stop; bottom button: reset)
Case Back: Steel, engraved
Strap: FKM rubber, quick release