Von Doren Watches Take Minimalism to New Heights

By Bryan Holt Published December 30, 2019

Let’s be honest — whether you’re in a classy, three piece get-up or commanding a casual look, watches more often than not rely on aesthetics than they do functionality.

We’ve moved into a moment of versatility, one that tells time with flair and allure. Hailing from Norway, the Viking Art Nouveau inspired watch series Von Doren is here to keep you up to the times.

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Over the last year or so we’ve seen many minimalist watch designs hit the market. So much in fact, that we’ve reached saturation point; but, for good reason. The minimal design route opens up a whole new dimension of distinction to your style. Von Doren plays with that idea and succeeds with persistence.

Guided by the pristine natural setting in the Norwegian city of Aalesund, a successful Kickstarter campaign has created a tasteful timepiece collection that flaunts clean lines and a wide, vintage styled dial.

Tribeca Filmmaker Øyvind VonDoren Asbjornsen, known for the film MAGNUS about World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen, created the Von Doren watch series.

“Since I was 12, I’ve always wanted to design a special timepiece, having inherited my great Grandfather’s luxury Swiss watch,” said Asbjornsen.

This fantastic work of art also incorporates the Viking rune No. 12 into the watches’ dial. Asbjornsen included this feature in the new collection because this symbol was believed to be a good luck charm for the ancient Vikings. Hey, we can all be a little -stitious sometimes.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Von Doren series is made from 316L surgical stainless steel, measuring 42mm cross and 8mm high. It also features a 20mm Italian handcrafted leather strap, screw-in case back, and is water resistant to 5 ATM.

The watch also sports luminescence hands, a double dome Sapphire crystal glass with scratch resistant AR coating, and Ronda Swiss Powertech 5 series movement.

The Von Doren Kickstarter campaign reached it’s goal of NOK200,000 (Approximately $22,900 USD) in less than 10 days of the initial launch. As you can see from these photos, this capsule is truly a classy covet. All watches range from $456 to $489 and extra straps can be purchased to have a diverse selection. Plus, they’re all delivered worldwide, for free. Pick yours out over at Von Doren’s website.

Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual

Bryan Holt is a writer, editor, designer, and multimedia storyteller based in Portland, Oregon. He is a graduate from the…

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Fashion & Style

Urban Jürgensen revival captures watch world attention with modern approach

Danish legacy reborn: Urban jürgensen's 250-year heritage meets contemporary luxury under new ownership

Urban Jürgensen revival

Urban Jürgensen became 2025’s most discussed watch revival. A 250-year-old Danish horological legacy was transformed into a contemporary luxury brand through family ownership and the technical leadership of renowned independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. The brand’s Los Angeles launch event was the year’s most talked-about watch presentation.
Founded in Copenhagen in 1773, Urban Jürgensen produced over 700 timepieces in the early 1800s and developed technical innovations such as ultra-precise marine chronometers. Despite several ownership changes and near disappearance over two centuries, passionate collectors preserved the brand’s reputation among watch experts.
“The biggest, most respected collectors own Urban Jürgensen watches—this brand, this name, is simply the highest level,” said watch writer Thomas Brechtel, highlighting the devoted following among serious enthusiasts, even though the brand remains little known to the general public.
The Rosenfield family acquired Urban Jürgensen in 2021, bringing a collector’s passion to the brand’s stewardship. Co-CEO Alex Rosenfield’s father had collected Urban Jürgensen pieces since the 1990s, which led to an unexpected opportunity to acquire the company when it needed investment to restart.
Kari Voutilainen, widely regarded as one of the most acclaimed independent watchmakers, leads technical development, while his 25-year-old daughter Venla serves as COO. This partnership brings authentic watchmaking credibility while modernizing the brand’s communication to appeal to younger audiences.
The launch collection includes three models showcasing Voutilainen’s craftsmanship: the UJ-1 250th Anniversary Tourbillon limited to 75 pieces (CHF 368,000), the UJ-2 three-hand watch (CHF 105,000), and the UJ-3 perpetual calendar with moonphase (CHF 168,000). Each features clean Scandinavian dial aesthetics, fine guilloché, and hand-applied numerals.
“The image contrasts modern, playful marketing with serious, traditional watchmaking—but it works because it is grounded in artisanal quality,” observed JX Su, founder of SJX Watches.
Rosenfield’s approach emphasizes accessibility rather than exclusivity, targeting a diverse audience including women and younger collectors, not just established enthusiasts. Ellen von Unwerth’s “Time Well-Spent” campaign, featuring people aged 19 to 82, reflects this inclusive vision.
This revival shows how historic watch brands can succeed today by combining genuine craftsmanship with contemporary communication strategies.

Fashion & Style

TAG Heuer returns to Goodwood Festival of Speed as official timing partner

Motorsport homecoming: TAG Heuer's goodwood festival partnership honors racing legacy

Tag Heuer at goodwood

TAG Heuer comes back to the Goodwood Festival of Speed as its official timing partner. This marks a major return for the Swiss brand, which has a deep connection to motorsport. The partnership aligns with the festival’s 2025 theme, “The Winning Formula – Champions in addition to Challengers,” recognizing Formula 1’s 75th anniversary. TAG Heuer has also recently resumed its role as Formula 1’s official timekeeper.
The Duke of Richmond started the festival in 1993. It centers around a 1.86-kilometer hillclimb course, where Max Chilton set the current record of 39.08 seconds in the McMurtry Spéirling. The event attracts hundreds of thousands of attendees, with millions more following through live streams, making it a central stage for car culture.
TAG Heuer’s motorsport history spans over a century, beginning with the first dashboard-mounted chronograph in 1911. The brand later introduced the first 1/100th second chronograph in 1916 and the first automatic chronograph for sale in 1969. Its partnerships include Formula 1, Porsche, Oracle Red Bull Racing, the Indianapolis 500, and the Automobile Club de Monaco.
“Motorsport is not just about competition, it is a cultural force, like TAG Heuer,” said Antoine Pin, TAG Heuer CEO. “We are honored to return as Timing Partner at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.”
To mark the occasion, TAG Heuer created the limited edition Carrera Chronograph x Festival of Speed. This watch features a British racing green dial inspired by Goodwood Green, a subtle hobnail pattern, and red accents. The 42mm case houses the in-house TH20-00 movement and comes with a brown leather rally strap reminiscent of 1970s motor racing.
Only 100 pieces of this special edition exist. Goodwood Road Racing Club members will have the first opportunity to purchase it before it becomes available to the general public. The design celebrates British car culture and showcases TAG Heuer’s expertise in chronographs.
The Duke of Richmond highlighted TAG Heuer’s significance in motorsport, noting its honored history and collaborations with some of the sport’s greatest drivers and teams.
This timing partnership reinforces TAG Heuer’s leadership in motorsport and offers a new platform to celebrate car culture through precise timekeeping and commemorative watchmaking.

Fashion & Style

Longines introduces bright white dial to Legend Diver collection

Classic evolution: Longines legend diver's white dial honors 66-year diving heritage

Longines legend diver white dial

Longines introduces a striking matte white dial to its popular Legend Diver collection, marking a notable departure from the traditional black face while retaining the design that has defined the model for sixty-six years. This new variant joins a lineup of dial colors in the well-liked 39mm case size.
The Legend Diver’s history dates back to Longines’ first dive watch from 1959, which featured a super compressor case. This design used gaskets that became more watertight as depth increased, allowing the original to reach about 400 feet. The watch also included a unique 60-minute internal rotating bezel, operated by a second crown to prevent accidental adjustments during dives.
This heritage remains strong in today’s models. The new white dial version preserves the vintage-inspired look and function, while offering a fresh, eye-catching appearance.
The 39mm stainless steel case remains compact, measuring just 12.7mm thick—smaller than most modern dive watches, making it comfortable for a variety of wrist sizes and occasions. Water resistance has been upgraded from the original’s 400 feet to 1,000 feet, meeting contemporary professional diving standards and reinforcing its status as a true tool watch.
The dial is monochromatic, with raised hour markers and hands filled with green luminescent material and outlined in black for excellent readability in all lighting conditions—an essential feature for underwater timekeeping.
Inside, the watch is powered by the ETA-based Longines L888.6 automatic movement, which provides reliable three-hand timekeeping, a silicon balance spring, and a 72-hour power reserve. This modern movement delivers current performance while maintaining the simplicity that defines the Legend Diver.
The bracelet features polished “beads of rice” links down the center for both visual appeal and comfort. Additional strap options include new blue or black rubber bands, allowing for versatility from professional diving to everyday wear.
With the addition of the white dial, the Legend Diver collection now offers blue, black, brown, grey, and green dials—all in the popular 39mm size. This expanded range demonstrates how classic designs can remain relevant and desirable through thoughtful updates rather than drastic changes.