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Laugavegur 62
Reykjavik
Iceland

+354 551 4100

Probably the worlds smallest watch manufacturer. The first and only watch manufacturer in Iceland. All timepieces are designed and assembled by hand in our studio/workshop located in Iceland. In our production we only incorporate high quality Swiss movements, European made parts and components. Every detail of our timepieces has been given the personal attention needed for perfection. The low volume of production gives every timepiece a personal character and a feeling exclusivity.

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Inside JS Watch co. Reykjavik Workshop

The founders of JS Watch co. Reykjavik: Sigurdur Gilbertsson Watchmaker and Technical-Director, Julius Heidarsson Director of Development, Grimkell Sigurthorsson Design and Marketing Director and Gilbert O. Gudjonsson Master Watchmaker can be found at the owner operated workshop, store and design studio at Laugavegur 62, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland.

 

Getting ready for New Year's Eve!

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

New Year’s Eve in Iceland

Icelanders welcome the New Year with a big BANG. The sky will be lit up almost everywhere you’ll go and wherever you look and every year Icelanders blow up more than an astonishing 600 tonnes of fireworks on New Years eve! Bought from the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue teams who finance their operations by selling fireworks. And every year Icelanders want to do it bigger than the year before – and of course, make a bigger bang than their neighbours.

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New Year’s celebrations

Icelanders will meet up with family or friends to have dinner around 18:00. Around 21:00 locals gather at their nearest bonfire to meet and greet friends and shoot some fireworks. After the bonfire the streets empty, because all the locals go home to watch a comedy TV show: Áramótaskaup or New Years Sketch Comedy. This is an hour long comedy show in remembrance of the major events that happened in the year that just passed. This is an absolute holy moment, as soon as the tv special is finished preparations begin for the main event. The sparkling wine is taken out of the fridge, glasses out of the cupboards. Everyone puts on their coats and gloves. Family and friends gather out in front of the house or out on the balcony. Excited kids and adults that are still young at heart get ready to light the fireworks ablaze whilst the rest of the party cheers from a safe distance. At midnight, the capital of Iceland is lit with countless fireworks and wherever you look the sky will be filled with the grandest light show you will ever see.

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Have you heard about the Icelandic Yule Lads ?

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

Yule Lads – The 13 Santa Clauses from Iceland

The Icelandic Yule Lads have little resemblance to the famous Santa Claus. The Icelandic Yule Lads are descended from trolls and their original role was to strike fear in the hearts of children. The thirteen brothers are the sons of two of the most hideous ogres ever known in Iceland, Grýla and Leppalúði.

There is no doubt that most children would have wanted to avoid the Icelandic Yule Lads in the old days, since they were used by parents to frighten their children into behaving.

In the 20th century, the Icelandic Yule Lads tradition changed and was strongly influenced by their foreign colleagues, both in terms of conduct and appearance. They began wearing red garments on special occasions, similar to the Santa Claus. They also developed an unprecedented kindness towards children.

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Even though the Yule Lads took on the role of Santa Claus and began bringing gifts to children their number stayed unchanged (13). Icelandic children place a shoe in their bedroom window each evening in the 13 days before Christmas. Every night one Yuletide lad visits, leaving sweets and small gifts or rotting potatoes, depending on how that particular child has behaved on the preceding day.

Icelanders are proud of the Yule Lads folklore so their names have stayed the same over the years. Their names are all originally described with their motive.

Listed in the order in which they appear in town:

1. Stekkjastaur, Stiff legs or Sheep-Cote Clod: Has long, stiff legs, and steals milk by suckling farmers’ ewes,

2. Giljagaur, Gully Gawk: Hides in gullies above town, then steals milk from cowsheds

3. Stúfur, Stubby: Small and short, steals pots and pans and eats leftovers.

4. Þvörusleikir, Spoon Licker: Portrayed as long and thin. Steals unwashed spoons, which he licks clean.

5. Pottaskefill, Pot Scraper: Steals unwashed pots, and licks them clean.

6. Askasleikir, Bowl Licker: Steals unattended food bowls which he then licks clean.

7. Hurðaskellir, Door Slammer: Slams doors which are kept ajar at night, keeping people awake.

8. Skyrgámur, Skyr Gobbler: Steals skyr from the pantry.

9. Bjúgnakrækir, Sausage Swiper: Hides in the rafters to snatch sausages which are hung up for smoking.

10. Gluggagægir, Window Peeper: Lies outside the house, peeking through windows,

11. Gáttaþefur, Door Sniffer: Has a huge nose to sniff out where people are baking, then steals cakes and cookies.

12. Ketkrókur, Meat Hook: Steals meat, Hangikjöt, using a long hook.

13. Kertasníkir, Candle Beggar: Steals candles from children.

Have you heard about the Christmas Cat ?

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

Christmas is getting closer and we are working hard assembling watches and shipping them out before Christmas so we don't get eaten by the Christmas Cat.

In Iceland we believe the old bit of folklore about a giant terrifying cat that, come Christmas time, will eat anyone who does not work diligently and complete their work before Christmas.

The huge and vicious Christmas Cat is described as lurking about during the Holiday Season and eating people who have not received new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve.

Working hard and staying Nice

The threat of being eaten by the Christmas Cat was used by farmers as an incentive for their workers to finish processing the autumn wool before Christmas. The ones who took part in the work would be rewarded with new clothes, but those who did not would get nothing and thus would be preyed upon by the monstrous cat.

Icelandic parents have found the story equally useful with their children. Those that behave Nice will receive new clothing as thanks. Those who don’t are destined to be eaten…

Went fishing!

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

Summertime is here, and this is the time we head out of the office and unwind for a few days fly fishing. During our trip last week Grimkell our head designer caught the BIG one in Laxá in Aðaldalur, a 101 cm and 23 pound giant. After the hero shot with the Salmon it was of course released back into the river for preservation of the species.

Proud member of the 20 Pounder Club

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Staying Productive

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

The biggest freedom you truly have is in your mind, so we decided to use ours during the past few weeks and create some new ads! Here is one of many we created during this time, more to follow…

Best wishes from Reykjavik, Iceland. Stay safe and healthy!

Probably the World's Smallest Watch Manufacturer!

Creating the Vínland GMT

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

After 3 years in design & development we were finally able to start the final stages of our work this summer, the assembly and testing of the first batch of Vínland GMT timepieces. So for the past few months our Watchmakers have been busy creating the new Vínland GMT Collection in our Reykjavik workshop before the official launch last week to make sure everything was ready in time.

Therefore September 19th 2019 is a very special day for us, since then all the hard work over the last 3 years was finally primed and the new Vínland was set free to meet the world ! :)

Say Hello to it HERE

Watchmaker, Sigurdur Gilbertsson, working on the Vínland GMT Collection.

70th birthday

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

Today we celebrate the 70th birthday of our Master Watchmaker Gilbert!

This birthday when someone refers to your many years, you can just tell them you are now a Classic, and Classics are Priceless 😉

Happy Birthday Gilbert 🍾

Ed Sheeran visit

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

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English singer, songwriter, guitarist, record producer, and actor, Ed Sheeran visited our workshop in downtown Reykjavik and met with the JS team.

See more HERE

Volcano in a watch

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

SIF Volcano assembly by our father and son Watchmaker duo, Gilbert & Sigurdur, in our Reykjavik workshop.

The Goddess SIF, wife of Thor the God of Thunder hand-engraved on the Brushed Steel case with her golden locks adorned in 24k gold inlay. Dial made from genuine volcanic ash from the famous eruption of Eyjafjallajökull 2010.

Get to know it HERE.

Sigurdur Gilbertsson Watchmaker & Gilbert Gudjonsson Master Watchmaker

Assembly, Testing and Quality Control

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

Today's creation, Islandus 1919. Then the strict quality control and testing in our Reykjavik workshop before a scheduled pickup in May by its new owner from the USA.



The First Heartbeat

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

One of the major highlights of every watch we create is hearing it's heartbeat for the very first time.

28,800 beats per hour, or about 8 ticks a second is a mesmerising and wonderful sound.

JS Watch Co. Reykjavik featured in the New York Times

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

Photo credit: Bara Kristinsdottir for The New York Times

In Iceland, Watchmaking With a Sense of Humor

REYKJAVIK, Iceland — When it comes to print advertising, most high-end watch manufacturers go for the traditional: a product close-up and maybe a posed scene of gift-giving or sporting skill.

Not JS Watch Company…

Read the full NY Times article HERE.

101 Art Deco

Sigurdur Gilbertsson

It is with great pleasure that we introduce today a new ladies watch to our collection, the 101 Art Deco. Available with either a Pink or Blue mother of pearl dial, handmade Alligator strap and Automatic movement.

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