Skate legend Mr Tony Hawk wrote last month on Instagram that “As a kid that was mostly lambasted for my interest in skateboarding, I never imagined it would be part of the Olympic Games. It’s surreal to now be in Tokyo bearing witness to this milestone...” Despite decades of corporate sponsorship and high-profile championships – not to mention video game crossovers; if you grew up with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater on the PlayStation, the news that Hawk is now 53 will make you feel… well, old – is this the moment that skateboarding truly joined the mainstream? Or is it the ultimate sell-out for a sport that, by definition, evolved to exist outside of defined arenas and structured competition?

The fact that skateboarding is elevated to sport’s top table in Tokyo of all places brings a certain irony to proceedings. Skating is prohibited in most Japanese public spaces and the land currently occupied by the Ariake Skate Park is being keenly eyed-up by property developers, with pressure intensifying on the organising committee to preserve it for life after the games following Japan’s success in the street discipline.

Perhaps a better bellwether for the status of skateboarding as a sport might be the arrival of Switzerland’s luxury watchmakers. Brands have been keen to engage with surfing (Breitling in particular, sponsoring a surf squad of athletes and working with Mr Kelly Slater on sustainable watch straps) and street art (TAG Heuer, Hublot, Richard Mille and others have all partnered up with big-name graffiti artists to produce limited-edition watches). But they have, to date, steered clear of the skate park. One exception is Baume, the younger, more alternative sister brand to industry stalwart Baume & Mercier – lately reincorporated into the main brand, but existing as a collection with a distinct identity all of its own. Working with French skater Mr Aurélien Giraud, who this year represents France in both the street and park competitions, it has brought out this heavily-upcycled limited-edition automatic.

The 42mm watch case is made from an old skate deck; the dial from grip tape, and other elements – notably the anodised aluminium ring around the dial – are produced from reclaimed waste materials. The textile strap, designed in conjunction with Giraud, has a cork backing, and uses recycled material in its construction. The back reveals a signature from Giraud, underneath which is the Swiss-made Sellita movement.

With its cohesive juxtaposition of materials and textures and asymmetric touches, it might just be the most characterful watch to bear the Baume name. In the short time since its creation, the sub-brand has convincingly laid down its sustainability credentials but perhaps lacked a standout product. Now, with the help of a suitable partnership, it has one.