A visit to JS Watch, Reykjavik

2503 Views 39 Replies 27 Participants Last post by CM HUNTER, 2 d ago

vacayshawn

Discussion Starter · 5 d ago

5

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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HoosierATCChief

· #21 · 5 d ago

vacayshawn said:
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 ) 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

N
Technical novice here: what does execution top and adjusted to 5 positions mean?

Reactions: 1

LosAngelesTimer

· #22 · 5 d ago

HoosierATCChief said:
N
Technical novice here: what does execution top and adjusted to 5 positions mean?

Top grade usually means it’s a chronometer grade movement without the chronometer grade certification. It’s also got the most fancy finishing for this type of factory made movement - machine finished with perlage, geneva stripes, heat blued screws, etc.

As far as adjusted to 5 positions goes, the watch is timed/adjusted in various positions - dial up, crown up, crown down, etc.

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Earthbound2

· #23 · 5 d ago

Awesome watch and trip. Congratulations

Reactions: 1

HoosierATCChief

· #24 · 5 d ago

LosAngelesTimer said:
Top grade usually means it’s a chronometer grade movement without the chronometer grade certification. It’s also got the most fancy finishing for this type of factory made movement - machine finished with perlage, geneva stripes, heat blued screws, etc.

As far as adjusted to 5 positions goes, the watch is timed/adjusted in various positions - dial up, crown up, crown down, etc.

Thanks. Nice to learn something every day.

Reactions: 2

The Naf

· #25 · 5 d ago (Edited)

THIS Sir is what WUS is supposed to be about...not the endless WRUW threads, whether or not you can shower with your watch on, where to find a pink strap with green stitching made from the skin of a brown toad killed on the night of the 1st moon of the 2nd lunar month of the year....Anyway I digress...what a wonderful little gem of a store/family in the watch community and what a lucky person to be able to visit and meet the people. When connected to a story like that, it will certainly enhance the enjoyment of your new time piece. wear in the best of health and thanks for sharing

Reactions: 5

NC_Hager626

· #26 · 5 d ago

Thanks for posting your pics of your visit to JS Watch Co. The shop seems to be a must for any true watch enthusiast visiting Iceland. Enjoy your Sif N.A.R.T!

Reactions: 1

domayotte

· #27 · 5 d ago

I definitely plan on hitting Iceland on day and will 100% make my way to this shop! Great post. Great pics!!

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Reactions: 1

HoosierATCChief

· #28 · 5 d ago

The Naf said:
THIS Sir is what WUS is supposed to be about...not the endless WRUW threads, whether or not you can shower with your watch on, where to find a pink strap with green stitching made from the skin of a brown toad killed on the night of the 1st moon of the 2nd lunar month of the year....Anyway I digress...what a wonder little gem of a store/family in the watch community and what a lucky person to be able to visit and meet the people. When connected to a story like that, it will certainly enhance the enjoyment of your new time piece. wear in the best of health and thanks for sharing

Yes. It would be enjoyable to meet up with fellow enthusiasts at places like this.😀

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[email protected]

· #29 · 5 d ago

I used to transit Keflavik and Reykjavik for work and miss both. The environs were very interesting and the folks: just outstanding. (👀)

Great thread, @vacayshawn.

✈

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jordanML

· #30 · 5 d ago

Been to Iceland a few times, but have never heard of this place. I guess I had my priorities wrong while there

.

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spoolmakdays

· #31 · 4 d ago

Cool, I had seen their adverts, but didn't know much about them.

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Mediocre

· #32 · 4 d ago

Glad to see the trip is going well! Congrats on the new watch! Thanks for sharing

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VincentG

· #33 · 4 d ago

Thank you OP for a charming write up, small shops like this one are rapidly disappearing here in the US, glad to see his Son and Grandson are going to carry on the shop. I would love to visit Iceland someday and I am sure my Wife would say the same, for now we have the Western US to explore 1st and our "Grand Tour" this Fall will likely only include Holland and Italy.

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ferrin

· #34 · 2 d ago

Thanks for the opportunity to discover JS Watch Co...!
This is something I'll remember if I ever make it to Reykjavik !
Cheers

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Studio27NW

· #35 · 2 d ago

Love posts like these. Thank you!

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Aero2001

· #36 · 2 d ago

Great post, and congrats on the great watch! In the summer of 2017, we stayed just a few block from the shop, and 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.)

Unfortunately, I believe the shop was closed every time I walked by, because I wanted to visit but didn’t, and we left Reykjavík after just a couple of days.

Wonderful country with nice folks, and I look forward to going back some day.

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gr8adv

· #37 · 2 d ago

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 .

Reactions: 1

vacayshawn

Discussion Starter · #38 · 2 d ago

Aero2001 said:
…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!

vacayshawn

Discussion Starter · #39 · 2 d ago

gr8adv said:
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.

CM HUNTER

· #40 · 2 d ago

I've admired these watches, but I now have a new respect for them seeing the small shop and the obvious attention and effort that goes into them.

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