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.
New Strap
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
New Calfskin strap with "pull-up" effect now available for our SIF - NART collection.
Hard at work in our workshop.
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
It's been an extremely busy week in our Reykjavik workshop with a lot of assembly work on all collections! Here is a photo of some of the watches we have worked on this week.
And now it is time to go fly fishing...! ;)
Cheers from Iceland!
Islandus 45 Years Anniversary assembly.
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
This week we have been working on our Islandus 45 Years Anniversary Edition here in our Reykjavik Workshop. The following photos where taken of our Technical Director Sigurdur Gilbertsson during his assembly of watch No. 21.
The photos show the process from: movement assembly, dial fitting, thermal bluing of hands, hand setting, accuracy testing and final casing of movement.
Cold Forging 316L Stainless Steel
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Our watch cases are created from Cold-Forged 316L Stainless Steel, an alloy that is amazingly corrosion resistant. Cold-Forging also makes our cases up to 80 percent harder and reduces impurities.
After the Cold-Forging the case bodies, bezels and case backs are milled, drilled and turned on highly accurate CNC machines.
They are then polished by hand to either a mirror finish or brushed to a silky-matt finish like shown on the SIF - NART case below.
Hand Setting
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
After a full week of assembly work we are looking forward to the weekend! This photo was taken yesterday while working on setting hands on our 101 collection.
Enjoy your weekend ! :)
Enormous Screw...
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Take a look at this enormous screw...!
This is the biggest screw found in our watches and is used on the case back. It measures a whopping 1,85mm in length. You might find it small but compared to the screws in our movements it is HUGE!
Happy Friday :)
Bon Appétit !
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Here is the main plate, Bon Appétit !
While working in our workshop we noticed that the main plate of our movement along with some of our tools resembled a dinner plate and utensils, so we made this picture since we found it quite amusing :)
Hand Engraving
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
We just finished this Frisland Classic watch with personalized hand engravings for a customer in Saudi Arabia.
King Gilbert
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
King Gilbert with his Crown! Well, it might only be a watch crown from our Islandus collection, but it's fancy nonetheless ! ;)
Something New is Coming...
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
The Rumors Are True...
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Brace Yourself...
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Are You Ready ?
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Open Heart Surgery at our Reykjavik workshop !
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
This is the Balance wheel and hairspring, considered the heart of the mechanical timepiece. Installing it in a new movement has to be carried out with the precision of a surgeon.
Happy Birthday Gilbert !
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Today our Master Watchmaker turns 65, and he has never been more passionate about his work!
This photo was taken this week inside our Reykjavik Workshop when Gilbert was working on and finishing a new Frisland Classic timepiece.
Advertising campaigns
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
At JS Watch co. Reykjavik we are not only extremely passionate about creating our watches, but also on how we present our brand and marketing campaigns. All our ads and marketing are created in house by the JS team. Here are some of our latest advertising campaigns.
Unique Watchmaking Tools
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
As we work on our watch creations in our Reykjavik workshop we use a wide selection of unique watchmaking tools. These tools inspired us to make a few photos to share with you. The photos where made in the past few days while working with some of our tools during regular work on our watch collections here in the JS Watch co. Reykjavik workshop and Atelier.
Shop of the year
Grimkell Sigurthorsson
We are very proud and privileged to announce that JS Watch Company Reykjavik has won the prestigious, ‘Shop of the Year’ award (Njarðarskjöldurinn), which is a token of recognition and encouragement granted annually to stores and shop owners in Iceland for their innovation and great service.
Granted by the City of Reykjavík, the City Centre Alliance, the Association of Merchants, the Federation of Icelandic Trade, Federation of Trade and Services, Global Blue Iceland and Taxfree Worldwide Iceland, the Awards ‘Shop of the Year’ (Njarðarskjöldurinn).
Recipients of the Reykjavík Shop of the Year Awards are primarily rewarded for innovation and success. Marketing and communications merits are also evaluated, together with service, opening hours, tax refund, signage, lighting, accessibility, language proficiency and product knowledge.
"JS Watch co. Reykjavik has developed a commendable reputation for exceptional service and product knowledge, where customers have the opportunity to not only to see the watchmaking process in action, but also receive a certain amount of creative license in the design of any watch they intend to purchase. With its innovative marketing and promotion campaigns, JS Watch co. Reykjavik has attracted significant attention on social media, both at home and abroad. Its reputation for quality and excellence has also attracted a fair amount of interest amongst international celebrities such as Jude Law, Tom Cruise, Dalai Lama, Viggo Mortensen and Yoko Ono, to name just few."
Water Pressure Testing
Sigurdur Gilbertsson
Every single watch that we create has to withstand many tests before leaving our workshop . Among the final tests all watches go through while in our workshop is a water pressure test. This is one of the most critical tests we perform on all watches that leave our workshop.
Important: Remember to never open, wind or operate the crown of your watch while in contact with water.
