Ghosts of BaselWorld Past - 2013 and GoS Watches

I have known Patrik Sjögren for a wee little while now, and have taken a lot of personal pleasure in seeing the growth of GoS.

2013 was when I first clapped eyes on GoS.  This was back when BaselWorld still had The Palace, which hosted a BUNCH of small and independent brands, and was the precursor for what would evolve into Les Ateliers.  

A lot has happened for GoS and for Tempus Fugit in those seven years, but GoS is still ticking away, and although I won't get to see my friend this year, he and his partner Johan Gustafsson did have something special, so for those of you who missed earlier, here it is again -

Courtesy of GoS Watches

Patrik Sjögren is perhaps one of the nicest people I've met in the watch business. And in many ways I've followed along with him as GoS has progressed, and grown. And honestly? Anyone who comes to my house and has my cat instantly fall in love with him? He must be a pretty great guy!

Courtesy of GoS Watches

This is the Skadi - the Norse goddess of Winter.  And it is truly something special.  Like much of the GoS collection, this piece is inspired by and named for a figure from Norse mythology.  And as I've known Patrik for quite some time, I'm going to let him tell the story in his own words -

The new model from GoS combines black damascus steel with red gold and glacier-blue luminous Mother of Pearl to illustrate the landscape ruled by Skadi - the Winter Goddess in Norse Mythology. Skadi is pronounced Skah-dee and she personifies strength, courage, and endurance. Her most mentioned attributes are her bow and skis as she is very skilled at using them both to hunt and to engage in battle.

And in addition to the phenomenal work of Patrik's partner Johan Gustafsson who is responsible for the Damascus steel work that has helped to make GoS so well known, two other artisans have joined this effort.  Anders Hedlund is a master knife maker who previously worked on the Sarek Trollius, and he is responsible for the engraving on both the lugs and the movement of the Skadi. And per GoS -

GoS introduce another master craftsman to the GoS collective as master goldsmith Peter deWit cast the gold parts for the case and also fit the premium quality blue sapphires in all indexes and the damascus steel crown.

The dial is a true point of interest.  To look at it you would not think that it was what it is - white mother of pearl.  But appearances can be deceiving - the blue hue is achieved through the use of Super-Luminova.

Here are the pertinents -

Specification - GoS Skadi – Limited to 5pcs

• ●  Case: 44.5mmx10mm (5ATM)
• ●  Lug width: 22mm
• ●  Glass: Flat sapphire glass with double sided AR coating, extra hard on outside
• ●  Movement: Soprod Chronometre grade 6498 with screwed balance. Bridges made from one solid piece of damascus steel handforged by Johan Gustafsson.
• ●  Dial: Three-layered dial with premium white mother-of-pearl on top and a thick layer of Swiss Super-LumiNova below for the best available afterglow and colored luminescence. The luminescent material is enclosed by a thin rhodinated brass plate with hand-soldered dial feet. The dials have a EU design protection and are manufactured and assembled by hand in the GoS workshop.
• ●  bezel: Black damascus steel made from stainless damascus steel.
• ●  Index ring/rehaut: Two layers combining previous GoS design with inspiration from viking bracelets. The upper ring and the 
  GoS logo are gold plated.
• ●  Hands: GoS spear shape in Johan 
  Gustafsson ́s handforged damascus steel. 
  The hands have a high contrast finishing 
  on the upper surface and handpolished bevels.
• ●  Crown: GoS design in handsculpted stainless damascus steel with a large goldfitted blue sapphire 7.5mm in
  diameter and with double gaskets.
• ●  Case: Case ring in black damascus steel made from stainless damascus steel provided by Swedish masters from Damasteel and reworked by GoS. Industry-strength PVD coating by ionbond Sweden, in Linköping.
  Case back, glass ring and lugs from 18k gold – all handmade in Linköping Sweden.
• ●  Strap: Handcrafted and tapered 22-20mm strap in premium Moose leather, fitted with premium GoS 20mm Swiss made folding buckle 18k gold
• ●  Limited edition to 5pcs and every watch is engraved X/5 to indicate number in sequence.
• ●  Five year guarantee
• ●  Delivered in presentation box in Swedish Walnut, handcrafted by Kanevad workshop in old Linköping