Swedish watchmaker GoS Watches, known for its Damascus dials and most recently for luminous mother-of-pearl dials, is now adding intricate engraving to its artisanal arsenal. This extra layer of craftsmanship is now evident on the new Sarek Trollius, where you’ll find a superbly engraved 43mm steel case, engraved movement components and rotor, and eleven pin-shaped 24-karat gold hour markers.
The new GoS Sarek Trollius features handmade 24-karat gold pins on the case and index markers.
It’s no wonder that the engraving here is so evocative and precise. It’s done in a cooperative effort with Swedish engraver Anders Hedlund, who is also considered by many one of the world ́s best knife makers. Hedlund considers knife making an art form that requires mastering many different skills, an ethos mirrored by GoS founder Patrik Sjögren with his approach to watchmaking.
A hand-crafted knife from Anders Hedlund.
GoS introduced the Sarek collection in 2016. Expanding with varying features in the years since, Sarek is identified with its Johan Gustafsson Damascus dial patterns meant to emulate the elaborate waterways in the Sarek National Park.
For the new collection, GoS once again looked to Sweden’s natural beauty, choosing to name the new models after Trollius Europaeus, a flower with yellow buds that is common in the Sarek National Park of northern Sweden. Take a look at the flowers and the watches side by side and you’ll see that the newly engraved case scrollwork is similar to the petals of the Trollius flower.
The Trollius Europaeus, seen in Sarek National Park, inspired the engraved designs on the GoS Sarek Trollius.
The gold pins on the dial and around the case, created by GoS founder Patrik Sjögren, echo the flower’s yellow buds. Both the dial and the rotor counter weight on the Sarek Trollius are made from Gustafsson ́s Damascus steel work.
Sarek Trollius caseback shows the fully engraved triskele rotor.
GoS explains that the distinctive Sarek chapter ring and case ring echo Viking bracelet designs. And the new watch’s crown, also newly designed, is shaped much like the form of a Viking sword hilt. And though the hands on the Sarek Trollius are made to recall Viking arrows and spearheads (much like earlier GoS hands), Sjögren and his crew say they can also manufacture hands using Johan ́s hand-forged steel if requested.
A workbench closeup shows the deep, detailed engravings on the bezel and lug sides.
Inside, a Soprod A10 automatic movement customized with a GoS triskele rotor powers the watch. The rotor is equipped with an additional counter weight handmade from either German silver or Damascus steel. Each watch is delivered in presentation box in Swedish walnut, handcrafted by Kanevad workshops in old Linköping. Price: $18,500. Further bespoke elements such as different strap materials or colors on request.
Specifications:GoS Watches Sarek Trollius
Case: 43.0mm x 10.5mm steel with 22mm lug width. Handmade pins from 24-karat gold are fitted in each elliptic groove of the case ring. The case back and lug sides are deep engraved with Trollius leaf scroll. Crystal is domed sapphire with double sided AR coating, extra hard on outside. Crown is GoS design in high-gloss polished with satin finished grooves. 7mm in diameter and with double gaskets.
Movement: Soprod A10 with GoS triskele rotor, dark satin finish and additional counter weight made from Johan Gustafsson ́s hand-forged Damascus steel. The triskele is fully engraved with Trollius leaf scroll.
Dial: Johan Gustafsson ́s wildflower pattern, machined and finished in the GoS workshop to achieve a high contrast result Bezel is a perpetual Trollius leaf scroll; index ring is two layers combining previous GoS design with inspiration from Viking bracelets. The upper ring and the GoS logo are gold plated. Handmade pins from 24-karat gold are fitted in the center of each hour index. Hands are GoS spear shape in high gloss with polished gold-plated finish.
Strap: Handcrafted and tapered 22-20mm in premium moose leather, fitted with GoS 20mm Swiss-made folding buckle in stainless steel.