Norrsken - Northern lights guilloche

Norrsken – Northern lights for your wrist

GoS, the Swedish independent watch brand, unveiled its new collection the Norrsken in March 2021. Named after the Northern Lights, this timepiece captures the appearance of swirling green lights dancing across northern skies. The watch draws upon the expertise of various artisans and encompasses a choice of a Damascus steel dial or a hand-cut guilloché dial. The entry for GPHG 2021 is the option with a Guilloche dial and case in hand-forged Stainless Damascus steel. A handblown index ring, formed of Swedish crystal, allows an extraordinary degree of luminescence to pass through its clear surface, flooding the dial with vivid green tones.

The Norrsken is available with a choice of case rings, dials and bezels. At the heart of the watch is the Calibre GoS03, featuring premium finishing and a customised micro-rotor hand-forged in Damascus steel.

GoS, based in Linköping, Sweden is proud of its Scandinavian heritage. Over the years, the company has created watches inspired by Scandinavian history and nature. Its latest watch, the Norrsken, the Swedish term for the Northern Lights, emulates the appearance of this natural phenomenon.

The Norrsken, housed in a 41.5mm stainless steel case, encompasses an array of materials. It is available with a Damascus steel dial, a material synonymous with GoS, or a hand-cut guilloché dial. This latter option is produced in collaboration with the renowned guilloché specialist, Jochen Benzinger. Both dial options evince the same captivating green hue. An index ring, encircling the dial, is produced by Swedish master craftsman, Mikael Kenlind of Vas Vitreum. This clear index ring is hand-sculpted and handblown in Swedish crystal, a rare form of glass seldom seen outside of the country. Twelve small fixation points hold the index ring in place, allowing a degree of flex and thereby mitigating the risk of damage should the watch be subject to impact.

James Thompson and his company, Black Badger, again based in Sweden, provide an insert ring cast from solid Badgerite. This solid lume material, developed in collaboration with Swiss firm, RC Tritec, the makers of Super-LumiNova, is positioned behind the glass index ring. The clear glass ring refracts light into the case, creating a mesmerising green shimmer. A further application of lume is positioned below the index ring near the exposed dial area, enhancing the readability of the indexes. A special colour of lume and method of application were developed specifically for this watch. This means of illumination shuns any form of electronics or high-tech luminescence, concepts alien to GoS, a firm which is renowned for employing traditional handcraftsmanship.

Spear-shaped hour and minute hands convey the prevailing time, while the GoS triskele indicates the running seconds. Both the index ring and seconds display are recessed within the dial which is filled with Super-LumiNova. With the Northern Lights Damascus steel dial, a series of Super-LumiNova dots are positioned below the GoS triskele seconds hand, producing an animated effect as the hand rotates.

Like the dial, the case of the Norrsken is also available in variants. One option features a highly polished stainless-steel case ring, while a second version is endowed with a Damascus steel case ring. Another option is to request case parts from Stainless Damascus steel in either natural finish or with the Black Damascus treatment. The bezel and the caseback are facetted, accentuating the appearance of the fluted case ring.

The bezel is available in a choice of highly polished stainless steel or Damascus steel, both finished in the GoS workshop. Furthermore, all pin buckles are forged of Damascus steel, produced by GoS, and feature the brand’s triskele logo.

The caseback is fitted with a pane of sapphire crystal allowing the wearer to view the automatic movement within. The Calibre GoS03 is made by movement specialist Schwarz Etienne and customised by GoS. It encompasses premium finishing, including hand-polished bevels and specific modifications requested by GoS, including a dedicated escape wheel bridge.

GoS has equipped the movement with its own micro-rotor, hand-forged in Damascus steel. Its upper surface is suffused with shades of green and black, matching the appearance of the dial. The micro-rotor sits flush with the neighbouring bridges, mitigating the height of the movement and providing unrestricted views of numerous beautifully finished components. The ratchet wheel is adorned with the GoS triskele emblem. When the mainspring is fully wound, the watch will run autonomously for 86 hours.

The Norrsken is supplied on a sumptuous strap, handmade in Stockholm from high-gloss, polished salmon leather. Finally, the watch is presented in a handblown Swedish crystal presentation box, once again, handcrafted by Mikael Kenlind of Vas Vitreum.