Swedish watchmaker GoS is amongst my area of interest model favorites for combining unique watchmaking with novel “Nordic” design that blends conventional creative strategies with regional masculine character. In 2020 I wrote a brand new story on aBlogtoWatch in regards to the launch of a five-piece restricted version GoS watch referred to as the Skadi. I ultimately obtained my arms on one whereas assembly with the model and have fallen in love with this watch over again. The GoS Skadi isn’t low-cost, neither is getting one which simple (the model might want to make you one on order), however this can be a beautiful timepiece that I used to be excited to get on my wrist.
The very first thing to make clear is that the “GoS” model is the brand new title of what was as soon as Gustafsson & Sjogren. The model was initially a mash-up between a metal-working bladesmith (Gustafsson) and a watchmaker (Sjogren). The 2 have since parted methods with Patrik Sjogren persevering with to run the model with a brand new metallic employee (Anders Hedlund) in Sweden. The model additionally discovered that many individuals couldn’t pronounce (not to mention spell) the unique title. So the sunshine rebranding to “GoS’ simply appeared to take advantage of sense. The Skadi watch nonetheless truly bears the names of the unique founders on the caseback.
A significant characteristic of the GoS model is use of Damascus-style metallic. It is a course of which has a blacksmith layer metallic sheets after which fold them collectively throughout the smithing course of to create a fabric that has a “wooden grain” look when machined the correct manner. Damascus metal and related types of the metallic aesthetic are appreciated primarily due to their magnificence and natural texture. The Skadi watch makes somewhat liberal use out of quite a lot of Damascus-style metals together with for the motion, arms, and elements of the case. Particularly, GoS makes use of a proprietary black-colored Damascus metal which they initially created for a collaboration product with fellow watch model Singer Reimagined. The bottom metallic isn’t black, however somewhat a particular type of PVD coating wanted to be developed with a view to obtain a black coloration whereas on the similar time permitting you to view the Damascus metal patterns.
The remainder of the 44.5mm-wide (10mm-thick) watch case is in 18k yellow gold, which helps account for the value of those limited-edition fashions. The case can also be water resistant to 50 meters and has a sapphire crystal over the back and front. Black and gold collectively make for notably good-looking colours and have been in style for masculine luxurious watches for many years. What provides to those two colours is the blues on the dial, which come from the mother-of-pearl dial, in addition to the small blue jewels used for the hour markers. The mother-of-pearl dial is particular as a result of it glows at nighttime. It does this as a result of GoS developed a particular approach to chop a chunk of mother-of-pearl skinny sufficient for mild to go by means of it and cost a layer of thickly painted Tremendous-LumiNova on the opposite aspect. Japanese manufacturers like Casio and Citizen have lengthy since demonstrated this property of mother-of-pearl in sure light-powered watches that depend on mild to enter by means of mother-of-pearl to a photovoltaic cell on the opposite aspect. On this occasion, GoS is utilizing the identical precept to have mild enter and cost a layer of luminant. The “night time shot” have to be thrilling.
The dial itself is comprised of some layers, together with mother-of-pearl, black Damascus metal, and 18k gold. The arms are handmade by GoS and keep on the Damascus metal theme. These arms are not any stroll within the half to supply and have to be hand-shaped and embellished with excessive care. That is very true when eager to each defend and emphasize the actual wooden grain texture that Damascus metal followers like me recognize. The arms embody conventional hour and minute arms, and a GoS “blade” brand because the subsidiary seconds hand situated on the 6 o’clock place on the dial. From afar, the dial seems like a window right into a pool with the arms showing like little floating Viking ships.
Contained in the watch is a Swiss Made Soprod model of the UNITAS 6498 manually wound motion that operates at 4Hz with about two days of energy reserve. Admittedly, this isn’t probably the most horologically thrilling mechanical motion for use in GoS watches, and I want automatic-winding actions, as it’s. That mentioned, the 6498 does supply some necessary creative alternatives that embody the power for GoS to interchange lots of the bridges with its personal specifically made elements crafted from Damascus metal with gold inlay. The outcome could be very enticing and helps proceed the necessary Damascus metal DNA look of the GoS model.
Hooked up to the Skadi case is a shiny black alligator strap with an identical 18k gold buckle. On the buckle and elements of the case are hand-engraved ornamental components becoming with the Nordic tradition theme of the Skadi product and the GoS model. What I most admire a couple of rarefied creative wristwatch just like the Skadi is that it’s decidedly non-industrial given all of the handwork that must be finished. Certainly, the watch wouldn’t be produced if not for necessary industrial processes that permit for the manufacturing of the primary elements, however its character and distinguishing traits are handcrafted, by means of and thru. Accordingly, GoS virtually laments the manufacturing of every of those merchandise given how a lot effort goes into them, which is why elite-level creative timepieces equivalent to this are sometimes “on order” solely. GoS won’t ever produce greater than 5 items of the Skadi watch, and the value for every is $42,000 USD. Be taught extra on the GoS watches web site right here.
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