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

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The GMW-B5000D-1C is featured on G-Shock’s website, though pricing and availability details have not yet been announced. The timing suggests a focus on collectors and fans seeking a piece of G-Shock history, now reimagined with premium materials and modern features.
This release illustrates how classic designs can evolve through new materials and technology, preserving the core qualities that made them legendary and appealing to both longtime G-Shock enthusiasts and newcomers discovering the brand’s origins.

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