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A visit to JS Watch, Reykjavik

2501 Views 39 Replies 27 Participants Last post by  CM HUNTER
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I'm up in Iceland this month and had the chance today to stop into JS Watch, talk with Gilbert, and tour his very small shop. It's a super interesting place and Gilbert is the nicest guy. He's been a master watchmaker for over 50 years and considers making/servicing watches "just having fun". He's trained his son and now also his grandson in watchmaking.

As many of you know, he has his own line of watches and I came knowing that I would likely purchase one from "probably the world's smallest watch manufacturer." (He's made just 7,400 watches in 17 years)

I did in fact make a purchase, the Sif N.A.R.T (North American Rescue Timer). A 1000m water resistant piece that was made originally for the Icelandic Coast Guard.

Here's a few pics of my visit:





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This is one of the best posts I’ve read. What a fabulous experience and great looking watch. I’d love to visit the shop and meet the family of watch makers. My sister was stationed at Reykjavik and loved Iceland & the people.
Great place, great people, and great food. Thanks for sharing this. I was there a couple of years ago, but the shop was closed (COVID). Nice watches, too!
Thanks! The people here are indeed wonderful!
I was in his shop in 2006. Almost nothing has changed, lol. Enjoy your time in Reykjavik. I'm not sure how long you are going to be in town, but The Einar Jónsson Museum and National Museum are pretty interesting and worth a day.
Haha I imagine that would be the case. We're here for a month but heading out on the ring road and west fjords here in a couple of days. Thanks for the tips on the museums! Went to the whale one today which was pretty cool.
Vacay: do you know more detail on the movements? Who makes them, etc.?
I do! He uses Soprod M100 "execution top" movements. He has them nicely decorated with blued screws, Geneva stripes, perlage, and JS Watch engraved on the rotor. They are also adjusted to 5 positions. When he builds the watches he does the build/adjustments and then runs them on a winder machine (I don't know the correct name for it :LOL: ) for 10 days to ensure accuracy.

The movement looks really nice in the open case back models, mine has a solid case back though so I don't get to see it :cry:
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I went to Iceland in 2011 (before I became a watch nut). I went there mainly for trekking in the highlands of the Landmannalaugar. Reykjavik is a wonderful city. Congrats and enjoy your new watch!
Thanks! We're here mostly for the trekking as well, heading out on ring road/west fjords for a few weeks, but have a few days on either side in Reykjavik so had to stop in and see Gilbert :)
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I keep threatening to buy this exact watch, and been chatting with JS W Co for years now. They messaged about 18 months ago to say the PVD version was in stock, but I had just blown my wad on a VC dress watch.
He was actually telling me about the PVD version. Said that he made it to be used with night vision goggles so that light wouldn't reflect off the case and disturb the use of night vision.
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I keep threatening to take Mrs bigclive to Iceland….

Seems another good reason to go 👍🏻
One of many great reasons!
One of the few places id like to visit.. actually I have quite a few id like to see but never will..id have to own a passport first ;)
Get on it!
…I recall being amazed that they left watches displayed in the window overnight. I don’t see that here in downtown Philly! (Then again, we were there in late June, so it was only dark for about four hours a day. I didn’t see total darkness at all when I was there.)
Crime is pretty low here we’ve learned on some walking tours. No guns at all in country, not even the police carry them!
I was there last year. A cool stop and a great guy. I still think I should have bought the watch he made for the World Cup soccer team .
He was wearing that one when I visited haha. Nice piece.
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