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Dutch & Belgian Watches: post your favourites and discuss the good, the bad and the ugly!

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#23 ·
This is what their website says:

Fueled by a passion for watches
MAEN Watches was created by Sebastiaan Cortjaens and Jules van Helvoort, who crossed paths while living abroad and shared a passion for watches and watch collecting.

Without knowing it from each other they both had been thinking about starting a watch brand. When Sebastiaan asked input from Jules about his idea, it did not take long before they teamed up and in 2017 MAEN Watches was born. Since then over 6 different collections have been released and we have customers in over 90 countries.

Both founders being Dutch - The name MAEN is the old Dutch Spelling of the word MOON which is the ultimate symbol of time, and at the same time a hint to our vintage inspiration.

About Us


Benjamin NV said:
Maan is moon. Maen is not a (current) Dutch word to my knowledge. Maen is a Swedish brand. But thanks for thinking of it.
Click to expand...
 
Discussion starter · #24 ·
sfnewguy said:
This is what their website says:

Fueled by a passion for watches
MAEN Watches was created by Sebastiaan Cortjaens and Jules van Helvoort, who crossed paths while living abroad and shared a passion for watches and watch collecting.

Without knowing it from each other they both had been thinking about starting a watch brand. When Sebastiaan asked input from Jules about his idea, it did not take long before they teamed up and in 2017 MAEN Watches was born. Since then over 6 different collections have been released and we have customers in over 90 countries.

Both founders being Dutch - The name MAEN is the old Dutch Spelling of the word MOON which is the ultimate symbol of time, and at the same time a hint to our vintage inspiration.

About Us
Click to expand...
Fair enough. I was wondering about that etymology. Si did not know this is two Dutchmen in Sweden, or at least that is what it appears to be. As said in the list, and following cues from the Nordic thread that inspired this, I guess we should draw the line at brands based in The Netherlands. If not, Frederique Constant would also count. But I do find ir of interest that the actual driving power behind Maen is Dutch.
 
#25 ·
Benjamin NV said:
So it was that on a thread dedicated to Nordic watches it transpired that it may be warranted to start a thread on Dutch watches. As a Dutchman I feel qualified to do so, although I have to admit I have not owned any Dutch watches myself. If the Nordic watch thread is anything to go by and this thread kicks off, that may well change rapidly!

Since I do not own any Dutch watches, I find myself devoid of eye candy to kick this off with. I propose a thread with lots of owner's images, but also very much to discuss new releases, new brands, and perhaps a look back in the horological history of Dutch watchmaking. I'm a novice at the topic. To set things up, I give you a preliminary list of Dutch watch brands (with a little help from @Ernie-Romers.1 who posted about Dingemans Mechanische Horloges in 2009):

  1. Aevig
  2. Batavi
  3. Brunmontagne
  4. Christiaan van der Klaauw
  5. Cornelius & Cie (started by Dutch people, but based in Geneve, therefore may not qualify exactly. By that definition Frederique Constant would also be a Dutch brand, though by now bought by Citizen. It ceased to exist in 2014.)
  6. Delft Watch Works
  7. Dijkman (thanks to @StufflerMike )
  8. Dingemans Mechanische Horloges
  9. van der Gang
  10. Gronefeld
  11. Holthinrichs
  12. Huet
  13. Hulsman (thanks to @StufflerMike )
  14. Ketelaars Watches (thanks to @ffritz )
  15. Kneijnsberg & van Eijk (thanks to @StufflerMike , not entirely clear if still operating. Couldn't open their webpage, hence FB)
  16. Paulus van Leeuwen
  17. Pedum (there appears to be a retailer with this name, but this post from 2011 indicates there were also own design watches traded under this brand name. It does not, however, seem to be currently operating)
  18. Pellikaan
  19. Quantuz (currently this brand name also seems defunct. It was started by Paulus van Leeuwen in 1992)
  20. van Ree (this brand appears to have ceased trading. In this post from 2009 they were discussing a watch storing the DNA of the owner)
  21. De Rijke & Co
  22. Roland Oostwegel
  23. Steiner (I could not verify this brand)
  24. Skav (apparently new in 2009, but seems to have ceased trading)
  25. Tack & Gybe (seems to be trading under the acronym TNG. Interestingly while still a Dutch company based on Dutch designs, they claim to produce from their own Swiss facilities.)

I wouldn't be at all surprised if other WUS members will point out this list to be flawed in various ways, I merely hope it's been a useful start. In preparing this list Pellikaan was a surprise for me. I'd never heard of this brand, but they make some nice unadorned takes on sector designs, such as the Flying Dutchman Sport III
View attachment 16741722

I was always already a fan of De Rijke & Co's Amalfi design. It's a diver's or racer's watch, so rotatable. I guess this mainly explains the elevated price. I'd rather have had a more accessible price for a non-rotatable version. The design is strong enough in my opinion not to need the novelty factor.
View attachment 16741723

I also find that Delft Watch Works, Aevig, and Batavi make very strong designs, although none have quite won me over sufficiently to hit the order button. Holthinrichs has my attention, but it squarely out of my league. My profile picture is their gorgeous Delft Blue enamel dialled version, which I don't think you can get anymore (it perhaps warrants the label 'grail' watch, but I hate that way of thinking and labelling!).
View attachment 16741727

Let's see what you come up with. Veel plezier!

(PS: I'd happily make this a Benelux thread if desired. I currently don't know about any Belgian or Luxembourgian watches!)
Click to expand...
Awesome thread man 😊, I will dig out my Aevig photos (hope to find them) .
Wow, there are so many brands I had no idea exist 😮.
 
#26 ·
Benjamin NV said:
To set things up, I give you a preliminary list of Dutch watch brands (with a little help from @Ernie-Romers.1 who posted about Dingemans Mechanische Horloges in 2009):
Click to expand...
Please include Fromanteel, makers of predominantly dressy sports pieces and racing chronos:
Image


Image


Benjamin NV said:
(PS: I'd happily make this a Benelux thread if desired. I currently don't know about any Belgian or Luxembourgian watches!)
Click to expand...
Pontiac is from Belgium:
Image


And GMT Chronographs, too:
Image


Oh, and Gavox:
Image
 
#29 ·
Bought this TNG Racemaster in 2003 pre-owned. It uses an ETA 251.262. I was racing yachts at the time (rather than just lounging about on them) and couldn't wait to use it. In practice you need something that gives a clear indication of time left at a glance at the start of a race. The dial proved too 'busy' to provide this, but I still loved it. It has great weight, it is very well made and has one of the best bracelets I have ever experienced on a watch - certainly on a par with my Omega Seamaster. Looking a little battered and scratched, but still functioning perfectly.
Image
 
#30 ·
Benjamin NV said:
As I understand it, Quantuz was a brand name by Paulus since 1992. I don't know how many models were traded under that name.
Click to expand...
Maen is old Dutch and has been used up until the early 1900s. To use the 'ae' combination was quite in vogue for a while. So to me, Maen is most definately a Dutch brand; Dutch and Swedish :) ;)
 
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Discussion starter · #38 ·
Discussion starter · #39 ·
So, I did a little search and dug out a Luxembourgian watch brand named Favor. Now, I must admit, to me their designs while certainly interesting, seem to push for a relatively low value novelty product, so despite obvious originality I'd likely class this more as a fashion watch brand, but than such definitions often sound a bit hollow. What do you think?

Favor

Image

Image


I don't think I have ever seen a more wooden watch.
 
#40 ·
Benjamin NV said:
So it was that on a thread dedicated to Nordic watches it transpired that it may be warranted to start a thread on Dutch watches. As a Dutchman I feel qualified to do so, although I have to admit I have not owned any Dutch watches myself. If the Nordic watch thread is anything to go by and this thread kicks off, that may well change rapidly!

Since I do not own any Dutch watches, I find myself devoid of eye candy to kick this off with. I propose a thread with lots of owner's images, but also very much to discuss new releases, new brands, and perhaps a look back in the horological history of Dutch watchmaking. I'm a novice at the topic. To set things up, I give you a preliminary list of Dutch watch brands (with a little help from @Ernie-Romers.1 who posted about Dingemans Mechanische Horloges in 2009):

  1. Aevig
  2. Aramar (thanks to @Tanjecterly )
  3. Batavi
  4. Brunmontagne
  5. Christiaan van der Klaauw
  6. Delft Watch Works
  7. Dijkman (thanks to @StufflerMike )
  8. Dingemans Mechanische Horloges
  9. Fromanteel (thanks to @veracruz , has a surprising crowdfunding campaign to co-own the brand. Are they stable enough to make an investment opportunity?)
  10. van der Gang
  11. Gronefeld
  12. Holthinrichs
  13. Huet
  14. Hulsman (thanks to @StufflerMike )
  15. Ketelaars Watches (thanks to @ffritz )
  16. Kneijnsberg & van Eijk (thanks to @StufflerMike , not entirely clear if still operating. Couldn't open their webpage, hence FB)
  17. Paulus van Leeuwen
  18. Pedum (there appears to be a retailer with this name, but this post from 2011 indicates there were also own design watches traded under this brand name. It does not, however, seem to be currently operating)
  19. Pellikaan
  20. Quantuz (currently this brand name also seems defunct. It was started by Paulus van Leeuwen in 1992)
  21. van Ree (this brand appears to have ceased trading. In this post from 2009 they were discussing a watch storing the DNA of the owner)
  22. De Rijke & Co
  23. Roland Oostwegel
  24. Steiner (I could not verify this brand)
  25. Skav (apparently new in 2009, but seems to have ceased trading)
  26. Tack & Gybe (seems to be trading under the acronym TNG. Interestingly while still a Dutch company based on Dutch designs, they claim to produce from their own Swiss facilities.)

Dutch roots:

  1. van Cleef & Arpels (based in Paris, thanks to @Zzyzx )
  2. Cornelius & Cie (based in Geneve. It ceased to exist in 2014)
  3. Frederique Constant (recently bought by Citizen)
  4. Maen (based in Sweden)

Belgian:
  1. Gavox (thanks to @veracruz )
  2. GMT Chronographs (thanks to @veracruz )
  3. Pontiac (thanks to @veracruz I never realised the vintage Pontiac watches I saw were Belgian!)
I wouldn't be at all surprised if other WUS members will point out these lists to be flawed in various ways, I merely hope it's been a useful start. In preparing this list Pellikaan was a surprise for me. I'd never heard of this brand, but they make some nice unadorned takes on sector designs, such as the Flying Dutchman Sport III
View attachment 16741722

I was always already a fan of De Rijke & Co's Amalfi design. It's a diver's or racer's watch, so rotatable. I guess this mainly explains the elevated price. I'd rather have had a more accessible price for a non-rotatable version. The design is strong enough in my opinion not to need the novelty factor.
View attachment 16741723

I also find that Delft Watch Works, Aevig, and Batavi make very strong designs, although none have quite won me over sufficiently to hit the order button. Holthinrichs has my attention, but it squarely out of my league. My profile picture is their gorgeous Delft Blue enamel dialled version, which I don't think you can get anymore (it perhaps warrants the label 'grail' watch, but I hate that way of thinking and labelling!).
View attachment 16741727

Let's see what you come up with. Veel plezier!

(PS: I'd happily make this a Benelux thread if desired. I currently don't know about any Luxembourgian watches!)
Click to expand...
Great post...opened my eyes to some unknown (to me) brands. Immediately fell in love with this but a tad too small for my liking unfortunately.

Image
 
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