Yale sophomore Aiden Tumminello ’28 has turned his pandemic hobby of crafting watches into a thriving business called Elm Street Watches, offering custom mechanical watches inspired by iconic Yale campus landmarks.
From Dorm Room Hobby to Business Venture
Studying architecture and mechanical engineering at Berkeley College, Tumminello began designing watches during the pandemic lockdown. Curious classmates noticed his handcrafted timepieces and encouraged him to expand his hobby.
“My vision was to create watches inspired by personal and iconic spaces on campus,” Tumminello said, referring to his design “The Rudolph”, based on the Yale School of Architecture.
All Elm Street watches reflect Yale landmarks, including:
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Haas Family Arts Library – geometric lines and orange carpets
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New Haven Green – iconic nine-square grid
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Yale Center for Engineering Innovation and Design (CEID) – industrial aesthetics
The business and official website launched this semester, with watches priced between $300 and $400, and Yale students and faculty receiving a 20% discount.
Crafting Process and Innovation
Tumminello handles design, prototyping, and assembly himself.
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Designs are sketched in his dorm room
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Prototypes are 3D printed at CEID
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Individual parts are ordered from manufacturers and assembled by hand
“I wouldn’t have turned this into a business without the support of my peers,” Tumminello said.
Early Customers and Campus Buzz
Friends quickly became early supporters. Gusty Jothaprasert ’28 bought a piece called “The Toolwatch”, inspired by the Becton Center, even before the website officially launched.
“It’s a cool conversation starter,” Jothaprasert said, noting that friends in Bangkok were amazed the watches were made by a Yale student.
Partnership with Veritas Search
Elm Street Watches recently collaborated with Veritas Search, a campus-wide scavenger hunt.
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The top three winners will receive a custom Veritas Search watch
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Fifteen additional watches from the collaboration will be available for purchase
Samuel Vargas ’28, a Veritas Search team member, praised Tumminello’s work:
“His craftsmanship is high quality, and we were excited to create a custom timepiece with him. Students will love it.”
Future Plans and Expansion
Tumminello plans to keep Elm Street Watches Yale-focused, while collaborating with more student organizations and Yale-affiliated groups. He is cautious about expanding to other universities, emphasizing that the watches’ uniqueness comes from his personal connection to Yale.
Currently, four designs are available on the Elm Street Watches website, offering collectible, Yale-inspired timepieces for students, alumni, and enthusiasts.
