Christiaan van der Klaauw will not only go down in history as the most famous Dutch watchmaker of handmade astronomical complications, but he will also be credited as the creator of the smallest mechanical planetarium in the world, so small that it fits inside a wristwatch. The latest mechanical wonder to emerge from the CVDK […]
Kees Engelbarts might not a household name for most people. Readers of MONOCHROME, however, have been introduced to the watches of this most original Dutch engraver whom Frank has been following since 2009. Engelbarts is an independent watchmaker, a free spirit with a lively fantasy and a talent for engraving that situate his watches closer […]
Next week will see the launch of a new Kickstarter brand called Gyre. We’ve seen quite a lot of initiatives like this in the last five years, but this one promises to be completely different. Its founder is Bernard Werk, a man whom I’ve known for more than fifteen years, a man who (back in the days) gave me the chance to write for his magazine. Bernard is a seasoned watch journalist and the owner of Watching, the oldest watch publication in The Netherlands. With Gyre he plans to raise awareness for ocean pollution while raising money for its clean-up as well. I spoke to Bernard about his fresh idea and how that turned into a 3-year hurdle race now finally nearing completion with the launch of the Gyre SeaCleaner.
A little while ago, we introduced to you an exciting, young Dutch brand named Ketelaars Watches. Not the easiest names for non-Dutch people, but the watches should do the talking of course. Now, a few months after our first coverage, we revisit his workshop, talk about future plans, and do a deep dive into one […]
A little while ago, we introduced you to an exciting, young Dutch brand named Ketelaars Watches. Not the easiest names for non-Dutch people, but the watches should do the talking. Now, a few months after our first coverage, we revisit his workshop, talk about future plans, and do a deep dive into one of his […]
The Dutch watch scene has been growing for about a decade and has been producing quite a lot of interesting pieces. One of the most intriguing micro brands coming from the Lowlands is Pellikaan Watches. 13 years down the road, this watch company is still running steadily and producing fresh new watches. Next in our […]
More than ten years ago Fred Dingemans started making watches, in the shed in his garden, using a self-restored lathe that has an interesting history. Since Fred limits his production to a maximum of twenty-four watches a year, the waiting list for one of his watches exceeds twelve months and I’d be fair to state that his watches are quite rare. Every watch is first designed with the client and subsequently build entirely in Fred’s atelier; a process that he shares with the client. Many years after my first visit to Fred Dingemans, we went back with the video crew, to film how Fred makes his watches.
More than ten years ago Fred Dingemans started making watches, in the shed in his garden, using a self-restored lathe that has an interesting history. Since Fred limits his production to a maximum of twenty-four watches a year, the waiting list for one of his watches exceeds twelve months and I’d be fair to state that his watches are quite rare. Every watch is first designed with the client and subsequently build entirely in Fred’s atelier; a process that he shares with the client. Many years after my first visit to Fred Dingemans, we went back with the video crew, to film how Fred makes his watches.
It takes a certain man to wear a tourbillon watch. A tourbillon says: I know what I’m doing. It differentiates you from let’s say the more common watches. But what exactly does it say about a man who decides to make his own? Completely from scratch? Without much useful education? Without CNC machines? Without Switzerland […]
This story is slightly different from what you might expect from MONOCHROME. For example, we won’t mention any movement in the first 1,000 words. But then again, Michiel Holthinrichs isn’t your normal watchmaker. Somewhere close to a canal in the Dutch city of Delft, this man is making watches in a way the big Swiss […]