Sheffield Watches has released “Brian’s Sheffield,” a limited-edition chronograph created in partnership with the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation.

Limited to just 95 pieces and priced at $258.00 each, every "Brian's Sheffield" watch sold will generate a $100 contribution from Sheffield Watch Company to the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Endowment Campaign.Those funds will help grow the Endowment, ensuring Brian’s legacy of hope and opportunity endures for generations to come.

The limited edition of “Brian’s Sheffield” chronograph is available exclusively through sheffieldwatches.com.

The story behind “Brian’s Sheffield,” however, began more than five decades ago.

When he was eleven years old, Jay Turkbas, who grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, received a Sheffield dive watch from his parents. That simple gift sparked a lifelong passion for watches and eventually inspired him to revive the Sheffield brand.

Just across the border in Wisconsin, Brian LaViolette was given his first watch by his parents at the age of four, a Green Bay Packers timepiece that ignited his own fascination with watches and collecting. Eleven years later, at the age of fifteen, Brian was tragically lost in a swimming accident. In the wake of that loss, his family transformed unimaginable grief into purpose by founding the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. Today, the Foundation has awarded more than 1,200 scholarships across the United States and abroad.

Those two stories, born decades apart, would eventually become one.

Neither Jay Turkbas nor the LaViolette family could have foreseen that two first watches, given by loving parents so many years apart, would one day inspire a collaboration dedicated to creating opportunities for future generations.

Introduced by acclaimed watch photographer and longtime Foundation friend and supporter Ty Alexander, Turkbas learned about the Foundation and its mission of advancing education and opportunity.

Alexander’s involvement extended far beyond the introduction. Inspired by Brian’s story, he personally designed the watch’s striking green sunburst dial and distinctive gold hands as a tribute to Brian’s beloved Green Bay Packers and the childhood watch that started it all. Alexander shared his design concept with Turkbas, who brought that vision to life as the limited-edition timepiece now affectionately known as “Brian’s Sheffield.”

Based on Sheffield’s popular Chrono II design, “Brian’s Sheffield” features a 42 mm stainless steel case, sapphire crystal with anti-glare coating, Swiss lume, screw-down crown, 100-meter water resistance, and Seiko VK64 mecha-quartz movement. The result delivers the smooth sweep and satisfying feel of a mechanical chronograph with the accuracy and reliability of quartz.

Another meaningful thread connects this story across more than 20 years.

In 2003, longtime Foundation friend Jay Leno endorsed The Journey Is the Reward, the book chronicling Brian’s life and legacy, with his words appearing on the cover.

Years later, Sheffield collaborated with Leno on two Jay Leno’s Garage timepieces, creating yet another unexpected connection in the remarkable story behind “Brian’s Sheffield.”

“At its heart, this watch is about family, tradition, memories, and gratitude,” said Doug LaViolette, founder of the Brian LaViolette Scholarship Foundation. “Jay Turkbas’ story and Brian’s story both began with loving parents and a first watch. Today, those memories are helping create brighter futures for others.”

For Jay Turkbas, reviving Sheffield was a labor of love rooted in his own childhood memories. Through “Brian’s Sheffield,” those memories have become part of something even larger, helping ensure Brian’s legacy continues to change lives for generations to come.

Two boys.

Two first watches.

Two families.

Two neighboring states.

Decades apart.

One shared belief: that memories matter, and that time, when given purpose, can transform lives.

For those in the Green Bay area, “Brian’s Sheffield” is available in limited quantities exclusively through our friend Adam Funk at Diamonds & Gold, 2071 Central Court, Green Bay, WI 54311. Call 920-437-6811 for availability.