The GoS Sarek Sunset, up close.
The GoS Sarek Sunset
showing lume.
The GoS Sarek crystal box is also ideal for presentation.
TWO YEARS AGO, THE SWEDISH-BASED WATCH-
MAKER DEBUTED its Sarek collection, which featured
intricate tempered Damascus steel dials with eye-
catching patterns made to emulate the ever-changing
waterways in Sweden’s Sarek National Park.
This year, GoS co-founder Patrik Sjögren echoes
his country’s brilliant autumn sunsets and its frozen
glaciers on the glowing orange and icy blue dials
of the new GoS Sarek Glacier and Sarek Sunset
watches. Still framed with Damascus steel, each dial
glows thanks to a layer of colorful SuperLuminova
set underneath thin slice of white mother-of-pearl.
Because it is translucent, mother-of-pearl allows both
color and light to be seen through the entire layer.
For added drama, the hour markings around the dial
are actually small openings that allow the lumines-
cence below to shine through.
As GoS debuted the two new Sarek models in
31mm (Ladies Sarek) and 43mm case sizes. While
wearing one of the watches during their debut
showing at Basel recently I was impressed by their
luminescence even during daylight. Sjögren explains
that it took him more than two years of experimen-
tation to perfect this technique, which has already
received protections from the EU design commission.
Manufacturing and assembling these three-layer dials
by hand, GoS is very likely the first watch brand to
use this technique to present mother-of-pearl dials
that glow in colors.
As noted, GoS continues to employ its famed
Swedish stainless Damascus steel to frame the dials
on the new Sarek watches. After all, Sjögren founded
GoS ten years ago with master blade smith Johan
Gustafsson, and his metal work significantly defines
the brand for many collectors. Paired with the now-
glowing dials, the Damascus bezel on the new Sarek
watch can seem to extend the glow of the dial with
its own reflective, wave-like patterns.
You may recall that the Sarek was the first GoS
model to feature the new GoS crown, which is shaped
to echo a Viking sword hilt. The crown’s neck is
deeply recessed into the case to better secure it from
side impacts. The hands are high gloss polished in a
Dauphine finish with a center ridge, a finish meant to
resemble Viking arrows and spearheads. GoS can also
manufacture bespoke hands from Gustafsson’s own
hand-forged steel. The Sarek’s chapter ring and the
case ring echo Viking bracelets and brooches.
GoS places a glossy tapered leather strap or a
moose leather black strap with a deployant buckle
onto the Sarek’s 43mm or 31mm case. Both new
Sarek models are presented in boxes made from
Swedish crystal made by Vas Vitreum, a family owned
Swedish glass company. GoS and Vas Vitreum collab-
orated to make a box that can protect and display
the watch.
Visible from the back, GoS has designed a triskele
rotor to help wind the automatic Soprod A10 move-
ment. The dark rotor has a satin, circular finish and is
equipped with an additional, highly finished, counter
weight made from German silver. Price: Starting at
$8,500.
SUMMER 2019 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 121