Swedish Watch Brand GoS Brings Northern Lights To The Wrist

Just about 15 years young, Swedish watch brand GoS, which utilizes Swiss-made movements for its Sweden-inspired watches, unveiled its first watch to the world. That 2008 release brought together a host of unusual talents into one timepiece, including Damascus steel finished cases and unique dials with distinctive markings. Now, the brand releases its Northern Lights  (Norrsken) series of watches that bring the incredible beauty of Earth’s atmosphere to the dial.

Each Northern Lights watch is a one of a kind thanks to the processes used to create the timepieces. They are inspired by the colors of the famed lights found in some of the coldest regions of the world, including Sweden. Thanks to gaseous particles, the sky lights up yellow-green, blue, and sometimes other hues of violet. 

The first Norrsken (the Swedish world for Northern Lights) watch was unveiled early last year with a striking green dial with a swirl motif that emulates the lights. Then, in late 2021, the brand released the beloved blue version – with the same stunning and alluring dial. In fact, each dial is created via a hand-guilloche pattern that is then carefully painted.  

Under the vigilant eye of Patrik Sjögren, co-founder of the brand and now its leader, unparalleled handcraftsmanship and quality defines each GoS Northern  Lights watch.  For these creations, GoS turns to a host of industry artisans to lend their master craftmanship. The hand-forged Damascus steel dials are created by Johan Gustafsson and then machined and finished by hand by  Sjogren. The silver dials are hand turned by Jochen Benziger. 

James Thompson of Black Badger, who has partnered with a host of watch brands to create bold luminescence, works his magic with the hues  that light up in the dark.  He provides “Badgerite” that includes Tritec lume for the indexes and markers, and via a clear glass ring that refracts the light. Guilloché specialist, Jochen Benzinger creates the Damascus steel dials using a hand-guilloche method   Sjögren himself hand finishes a myriad of the watch parts, including the dials, crowns, hands and movement components. 

The 41.5mm Damascus steel watches can be purchased with a choice of case ring, dials or bezels, but each is powered by the 199-part GOS03 caliber made by Swiss movement specialist Schwarz Etienne and customized by GoS. It  boasts a customize micro-rotor made of hand-forged Damascus steel.   Its surface is infused with the corresponding dial color and black to match the green or blue of the watches. All pieces are finished with a handmade salmon-leather strap created in Stockholm. In short, the watches are real team effort – much like the different gases that come together to light up the sky. This effort, though, lights up the wrist. 

 Just 50 pieces of each color will be made on order, and each is unique due to the hand artisanry. The prices range from $19,500 to $24,500 depending on the selected options, case materials and finishes.