Von Doren Tandberg White Swiss Automatic 46.3x38MM
Some watches are inspired by other watches. The Tandberg is inspired by something altogether more interesting.
Von Doren's Tandberg pays tribute to Vebjørn Tandberg, the Norwegian engineer and industrial pioneer whose radios and hi-fi equipment helped define Scandinavian industrial design during the middle of the twentieth century.
Rather than simply placing the Tandberg name on a conventional watch, Von Doren has translated elements of those original products into the design itself.
The rectangular stainless-steel case is satin finished and glass blasted, while a polished bezel frames the flat sapphire crystal. The proportions — 46.3 × 38mm and only 10.6mm thick — give the watch presence without making it cumbersome.
Then the details begin to reveal themselves.
A blue ellipse runs around the edge of the white dial, recalling the frequency indicators found on Tandberg's TR20 series. Above it travels a seconds hand with a red luminous tip, while the crown is shaped with the suggestion of an old volume control and finished with an inset of black onyx.
These are not decorative references added afterwards.
They are the reason the watch looks the way it does.
Inside sits the proven Swiss Made Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement, beating at 28,800 vibrations per hour and providing approximately 40 hours of power reserve. A flat sapphire crystal with internal anti-reflective coating protects the dial, while water resistance is rated to 50 metres.
The watch arrives on a blue-toned nylon strap with leather backing and is presented in an oak wooden box, another fitting reference to the material language of classic audio equipment.
Only 150 examples of each Tandberg colour will be produced.
Why buy it?
Because this is one of those rare watches where the inspiration actually matters.
You do not need to know what a Tandberg TR20 looked like to appreciate the watch.
But once you do, the blue ellipse, red seconds hand, rectangular case and onyx crown suddenly make much more sense.
The result is Scandinavian without being predictably minimalist, nostalgic without becoming retro pastiche, and unusual without trying too hard to prove it.
A mechanical watch inspired by the golden age of Norwegian sound — and designed with enough confidence to have a voice of its own.
