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Away from the Fairways | TEE TIME
MAKING AN IMPACT JS WATCH CO. REYKJAVIK IS A FAMILY-RUN ICELANDIC WATCHMAKER. BILLED AS THE WORLD’S SMALLEST, THE BRAND’S EXCEPTIONAL TIMEPIECES, WHICH ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG, HAVE DRAWN FANS AS DIVERSE AS TOM CRUISE AND EUROPEAN ROYALTY. The Islandus Chronograph. From HK$33,000 HKGOLFER.COM
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craftsmanship, attention to detail and sheer excellence in watch making appealed to this new influx of visitors. The brand was quickly back on its feet and working furiously to keep up with the renewed demand. Fans of the brand include Hollywood A-listers Jude Law and Tom Cruise as well as Constantine II, the former king of Greece. JS Watch has gone on to create five highly sought after limited edition collections. Having survived the financial failure, it seems only fitting that the company has created a new timepiece that embraces Iceland’s volcanic vicissitude. The Frisland GOÐ is a tribute watch that pays homage to the destructive power of the countr y ’s volcanoes. Based Fans of JS Watch on the brand’s popular Frisland include Hollywood collec tion, this A-listers Jude Law edition has the and Tom Cruise as name GOÐ well as Constantine II, etched onto the dial in a vivid the former king red hue. The of Greece. polished black dial is actually a carefully applied layer of volcanic ash taken from the cloud that grounded European air traffic for weeks in late 2010. Beneath the brimstone, the timepiece is anything but ordinary. Assembled by hand, the case is made from 316L surgical steel and water resistant up to 50 meters. It protects an automatic ETA movement, customised to JS Watch’s specifications. The finished product has a power reserve of up to 38 hours and is visible through a sapphire caseback. The simple, bold aesthetic continues with fter years of imagining their dream watch, friends Sigurdur oversized white roman numerals at the 12 Gilbertsson, Julius Heidarsson and and 6 o’clock positions. Plain white indices Grimkell Sigurthorsson decided complete the hour markings and a red sweeping to make the timepiece a reality. hand compliments the finish. At 44mm the In 2005, with Gilbertson’s father, Frisland GOÐ is a real statement and a piece of Gilbert Gudjonsson, a master watchmaker of 40 geological authority. Fiercely proud of Iceland’s nautical prowess, JS years onboard, the team launched its first line Watch co. has also produced a hardy timekeeper and JS Watch co. Reykjavik was born. The collection was an immediate success in conjunction with the country’s national coast and sold out within six months. Iceland’s guard – the Sif North Atlantic Rescue Timer. A economy, however, turned out to be built on classically styled pilot’s watch, the Sif is generously an unstable base and the Icelandic Krona – the proportioned at 40mm. The remarkably clean currency of this island nation – collapsed. The dial design and robust construction has made wealthy domestic market, on which the firm it a treasured possession of the fearless men and woman of the coastguard. White luminous relied, vanished. In the wake of the financial collapse, however, numerals provide visibility in poor conditions millions of tourists flocked to Iceland, desperate and the water resistance extends to a depth of to take advantage of the prices offered by the 1,000 metres. Only 941 of these watches have been country’s weak economy. JS Watch co’s precision
A Clockwise from top: JS Watch co’s Gilbert Gudjonsson, a master watchmaker for more than 40 years; the special edition of the Frisland GOD is priced from HK$102,000; Tom Cruise and the team from JS Watch 24
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produced and the case back is specifically numbered. Available in stainless steel or with a contemporary PVD black coating the finished timepiece is as a comfortable in the office as it is in rough seas. Arguably JS Watch co’s most popular collection is the Islandus. While the special edition, of which only 10 were made, has sold out, buyers have instinctively gone for the more widely available model. And for good reason: this watch is a classic. Generously proportioned at 44mm this timepiece features a manually wound movement and roman numerals on the face; the number 12 stands out in a bright red colour. With a sterling silver dial guilloched by hand and an ostrich skin strap it represents one very special timepiece indeed. Reflecting the determination of the Icelandic people and the country’s dramatic nature, the GOÐ, Sif and Islandus timepieces exemplify JS Watch patriotism. These timepieces, which are available in Hong Kong through Times International Creation, are rare examples of traditional craftsmanship working in harmony with contemporary passion. Their mark may not yet match that of a volcano, but they’re a powerful – if exclusive – force in the world of horology and a brand the people of Iceland should be proud of. JS Watch co. Reykjavik is represented in Hong Kong by Times International Creation. For more information, contact jswatch@timesic.com; (852) 3590 4153
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Sif NART. From HK$22,000
101 32mm. From HK$14,000
1941. From HK$21,000
JS Watch co. Reykjavik is represented in Hong Kong by Times International Creation. For more information, contact jswatch@timesic.com; (852) 3590 4153 Frisland. From HK$21,000
Frisland Classic. From HK$22,000
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Islandus. From HK$21,000
1919. From HK$21,000
Frisland God. From HK$34,000
101 38mm. From HK$14,000
Islandus Chronograph. From HK$33,000
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