At the moment it is the school holidays so I have been able to share many precious moments with my 10-year old son. He is exceptionally energetic and absolutely loves the outdoor lifestyle. Therefore, we have spent many hours doing the beach and lake walks, which has been blissful. As well as world-class coastal resorts, South Australia has some beautiful nature hikes. One of the most popular is the steep trail from Waterfall Gully to Mount Lofty Summit. This has been a great source of inspiration for many local artists and designers. When I speak with brands around the world many are also influenced by forms found in nature. A great example is a Norwegian company Von Doren owned by the enigmatic Øyvind VonDoren Asbjørnsen.
Approximately 18-months ago I wrote an in-depth review of Von Doren’s fantastic Grandmaster Mark II Open Heart. This is the company’s flagship model and is a stylish traditional watch. Generally, I prefer mechanical watches and in particular skeletonised dials. There is something that has always intrigued me about visible moving parts. However, I also believe in diverse editorial content and bold designs. That is why Øyvind VonDoren Asbjørnsen’s new Runde really appealed to me.
When writing reviews, it is always a pleasure to hear what inspired the designer to create a certain product. The Runde is named after the bird island Runde, situated in Ålesund, Norway. Interesting this island known by locals as “Treasure Island” because of gold discovered on a shipwreck (Dutch Vessel Akerendam) which sank in 1725. It also has the most diverse and unique population of seabirds in Scandinavia.
Aesthetically the Runde has a bold identity and is in line with Øyvind VonDoren Asbjørnsen’s other creations. Dimensionally the watch has a smaller (316L stainless steel) case than the Grandmaster Mark II Open Heart and has a diameter of 39mm. These traditional proportions should appeal to a wide variety of buyers including the unisex market. The Runde comes with a choice of ‘Ocean Blue or Havana Brown sunburst dials. Both are very appealing and the decision will come down to personal preferences. Other features include raised steel indexes, domed mineral crystal, engraved case back (Gold Ducat from the Runde Treasure), small second indication, quick release strap and water resistance to 50-metres. Powering the watch is a high-quality Swiss Made Ronda 1069, 6 jewel quartz movement.
The Runde is presented on an Italian leather band and priced competitively at €248 (approximately $272). To purchase this stylish dress watch follow this link
