Not all images were able to load for printing. Please close the print window and try again. A Watch Made for Vikings, the GoS Völund Fullerö Sword (Incl. Video)
Fullerö, the Blade of the North! Forged in fire and sculpted by hand...
Named after a mythical Norse blacksmith, Völund, and the best-preserved Viking blade, the Fullerö Sword, we’re looking here at a truly spellbinding watch. The inspiration for the Fullerö Sword comes from an ancient Viking blade, found in Fullerö, Sweden, in 1969. To this day, it remains the best-preserved Viking sword ever to be found and is known for its intricate pattern-welded or Damascus steel core. And it just so happens to be that GoS Watches, the independent watchmaker from the North, is the expert in Damascus steel watchmaking… Let’s take a closer look (don’t miss the video on top) at the rather impressive and totally unique GoS Völund Fullerö Sword.
Founded by Swedish master watchmaker Patrik Sjögren, GoS is all about Scandinavian mythology and Viking heritage, and the brand’s watches almost always use Damascus steel elements, revered for their unique beauty and detail. Working together with master craftsmen like master bladesmith Conny Persson, GoS has carved out a very special niche for itself.
Damascus Steel
What is Damascus steel exactly, and why is it so special? The technique dates back to ancient times, when bladesmiths would start layering different types of steel to strengthen their blades. Steel pieces would be welded together by hand, drawn out in length, cut and restacked, forge-welded again and so on. In the process, the layer count doubles each time an ingot is folded or cut and stacked.
The patterns are then created by deforming the layered steel ingot. The technique used by Viking bladesmiths was to twist multi-layered rods and then forge them together to create a sword blade. Effectively, this created one of the first composite materials, combining properties of two different types of steel. This same technique is used by Conny Persson to create the dials for the Fullerö Sword.
The final piece is then shaped and cut into whatever it needs to be, and for GoS, it can be anything, really. A case, a dial, a crown or even hands and movement components, Patrik has done it all. Pieces can be further detailed by acid etching them to reveal the different layers and the pattern, or applying colour by chemical or heat-treating them. And if done right, you end up with something spectacular!
The GoS Völund Fullerö Sword
The Fullerö Sword is riddled with design elements taken from Scandinavian folklore and Viking heritage. From the styling of the case, the scrolling on the bezel, down to the unique dial pattern and shape of the hands, a lot is going on. Yet, it feels coherent, balanced and above all else, original!
The 41.5mm by 11mm stainless steel case has a design inspired by Viking bracelets, with a vertical grooved pattern in the caseband. The bezel is engraved with a braided GoS motif, inspired by Viking runes, and filled with black enamel. The shape of the lugs is taken from the hilt of a Viking blade, and the crown is hand-finished by Patrik, and again, inspired by the hilt of a sword wielded by Vikings. This also hides a technical feature, as the crown neck is recessed deep into the case and acts as an invisible crown guard.
But the real show of craftsmanship is on the dial. GoS has long used Damascus steel in its watches, but mostly for the dials. If you look closely, you can see depth and details far beyond what blank steel dials can deliver. For the Fullerö Sword, you have the option of a raw steel dial, a blue dial, or a fiery orange one. I opted for the blue one, as I have a soft spot for blue watches, but also because the colour shifts from a mix of blues and purples to almost uniformly black depending on how the light hits it. As such, the dial truly comes alive!
Any watch needs to tell time as well, and here it’s done by spear-shaped hour and minute hands, with a needle-like central seconds hand. Around the outer perimeter, a special sapphire crystal hour ring has a luminous backing that lights up orange. When the light goes dim, it’s almost like the dial lights up bright orange as if ready to be forged again. It’s really something special.
Turning the watch over not only reveals the beating heart of the Fullerö Sword, but also more Viking-inspired details. Held in place with six screws, the caseback is engraved with the same braided pattern as the bezel. It also shows you the build number of your watch. This one is No. 1 of 2025, so the very first in this year’s series.
The G101 automatic movement comes from La Joux-Perret and is finished according to GoS’ specifications. The bridges and plates are coated in dark rhodium and finished with Geneva Stripes on top. The tungsten rotor is partially openworked, with a gold-coloured Triskele medallion, another reference to its Northern heritage. The movement runs at a frequency of 28,800vph and delivers a steady 65 hours of running time.
Thoughts & Price
GoS puts the Völund Fullerö Sword on a black Moose leather strap, with the option of having a braided pattern in the top layer. The finishing touch is a Damascus steel pin buckle. The collection is limited to an annual production of 12 pieces this year, which moves up to 18 for next year. Each one is individually numbered on the caseback, as I mentioned earlier. The price is set at USD 12,500 excluding taxes for the Midnight Blue or Glowing Steel dial models, and USD 11,500 excluding taxes for a raw steel dial.
To me, that price is fully justified, given the amount of detail and manual work poured into every edition of the watch. The amount of work needed to create the intricate Damascus steel ingot, and then etching and colouring to reveal as much detail as possible, is just astonishing. Every watch is made to order, and the process involves the client from start to finish. You get to select your own preferred dial, since each one is a unique piece. This is done before Patrik begins the finishing process to heat blue it, or simply acid etch it and leave it raw.
So if you’re looking for something very special and are not afraid to go off the beaten track, the GoS Völund Fullerö Sword is definitely worth your time and money. For more information, please visit GoSWatches.com.
