Van der Gang Watches

Founded by Wybe van de Gang in Dokkum — a beautiful historic town in Friesland, one of the Netherlands' most northern provinces — in a monumental former school building that now houses the entire manufacture. Van de Gang graduated from the Leiden Instrument Makers School in 1990 and founded Exakt Fijnmechanika, which grew rapidly into an internationally recognised player in precision engineering for aerospace, medical, and laboratory industries (retinal surgery is performed with Exakt components). As his machines shrank to produce parts no larger than 4mm, the smallest possible precision led him naturally to watchmaking.

In 2002 he began designing watches of at least Swiss quality; the first model — the Original — sold in 2004. From 2008, Van der Gang built a full in-house manufacture, developing and producing his own complications.

Philosophy: balance is the brand's core code of conduct — in design, engineering, and detail. Elegant, timeless designs with modern touches, classical but with a twist. Movements are based on modified ébauches (Valjoux 7751, 7753, ETA 2824), but heavily reworked with complications developed and produced in-house. Cases are wire-eroded and nitrogen-filled for exceptional durability.

Collections: Original, Chronograaf, Classic GMT, Vlieger (pilot's), Ladies, and Special Editions. The fourth model — the Vlieger (combining date, AM/PM, second timezone, and chronograph) — won European Watch of the Year 2014, the brand's proudest achievement. An in-house perpetual calendar has been in development as the ultimate next milestone.