Those of you that regularly visit my website will know that I have a degree in illustration. A prestigious gallery in Adelaide also currently represents me. Even though I haven’t painted for a few years I still keep eye out for exciting contemporary artists. Certainly Australia has a number of accomplished artists including Juan Ford. I first became aware of his talents when I relocated down under from the UK Three years ago. The best way to describe his style is to say it is hyperrealism blended with a touch of surrealism. Some of his earlier pieces feature indigenous plants with paint splattered over them. This got me thinking on what type of buyer would actually buy these eclectic works. Essentially the same logic could be applied in the diverse world of horology.
It is fair to say that most people I speak with are only aware of a select amount of corporate watch companies like Rolex, Omega and Tag Heuer. When I visited Baselworld earlier this year I got to meet the owners of brands by just walking around the show. For example I was trying to locate Avant-Garde watchmaker Urwerk (who decided to exhibit in the Ramada Hotel) and bumped into Patrik Sjögren who is the co owner of Gustafsson and Sjögren. In the short time I spent with him I found him to be a very genuine and affable person. He also was kind enough to let me try his latest creation called the Winter Nights.
What makes Gustafsson and Sjögren really stand out in the watch industry is their meticulous attention to detail. Patrik Sjögren is a trained watchmaker with an engineering background. This means that he is obsessive (positively speaking) about the appearance of the end product. Admittedly their timepieces will only appeal to a small minority of people due to price and idiosyncratic design. However I think they are truly amazing and I am glad the company is getting the recognition they deserve.
The Winter Nights is smaller than previous models and measures 43mmx10mm. Personally I prefer much larger timepieces but found it very comfortable and lightweight to wear. Visually the watch is incredibly beautiful and definitely unforgettable. I absolutely love the fusion of luxurious 18-karat gold and Damascus steel. Rarely have I ever seen this combination of these two stylish materials before and have to say the result is pretty astonishing. As these timepieces are individually handcrafted every piece is unique and numbered sequentially.
Beneath the delightful exterior lies a twin barrel manual winding movement sourced from Swiss company Technotime. The Calibre GoS02 comprises 26-jewels and oscillates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour (4Hz). This mechanism has been modified by Patrik Sjögren and contains hand forged Damascus steel bridges. Functionally the Winter Nights features hours, minutes and seconds. The watch also has an impressive 120-hour power reserve and is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
The Winter Nights (as tested) has a high quality Nubuck leather strap with engraved 18 karat gold buckle.
For more information about Gustafsson and Sjögren visit the company’s website: http://goswatches.com
