In Conversation With Volan’s Diederik van Golen, A Returning Watchmaker

Whenever we can shine a little light on something interesting that has to do with watches coming from the Netherlands, we tend to get a little bit extra excited. Call us chauvinistic, but we’re proud of the things that are being done in our small country. So when we learned that someone we knew quite well from the past was starting another watch adventure, we jumped on it. And not only were we surprised by what Diederik van Golen was planning to do with Volan Watches, but we also questioned ourselves why no one else had done so before! 

Dutchman Diederik van Golen is not new to watches; that much is obvious from the intro. Watches have long played a key role in his life, even before his first ventures into actual watchmaking. While he might not be a watchmaker by trade, he knows his stuff and has a good feeling of the industry and what’s done. A regular at watchmaking events in the Netherlands and international fairs like Geneva Watch Days, he decided it was time to make a return for himself about a year and a half ago. So, with the launch of Volan Watches and now the delivery of the first pieces to clients well on its way, it’s time to sit down and catch up with Diederik.

Robin, MONOCHROME Watches – Diederik, welcome back to the scene! Earlier this year, you launched Volan Watches. How are things going?

Diederik, founder of Volan Watches – Thanks! It’s good to be back, honestly! Things are going quite well, and I’m proud to say the first batch of watches has been shipped to clients, and my suppliers and I are working hard to deliver all remaining orders as soon as we can. But we’re on schedule, which is absolutely great! It’s been quite a journey, but I am happy to be back in it again and reconnect with a lot of people with whom I haven’t been in touch for a while.

Volan is not your first adventure in watchmaking, as people might know. You actually co-founded EZA Watches in 2016. What’s happened since?

Well, I left EZA Watches about two years in, on good terms, I can gladly say. Adriaan and I parted ways, and I focused on my work in the yacht industry, which took up more and more of my time. But to be perfectly honest, I have missed it! I’ve been out of the industry for seven or eight years, but I have met some great people during my time with EZA. And although I kept in touch with quite a few and regularly try to meet up with many of them during all sorts of events, I missed doing something for myself that involves watches.

So what’s changed for you? What pushed you to come back to it?

To be honest, it was a chance discovery. At some point during my studies at University, I stumbled upon a vintage tyre watch from the 1950s, and it immediately caught my eye. I have always had a thing for cars, watches and boats, and that tyre watch simply stuck with me. Later on, I started searching online to find more information about them, and learned they originated from the 1940s and became really popular in the 1950s and 1960s. I also found out that at one moment in time, there were more than 50 brands making this type of keyring watch, including some rather famous names. Shortly after, though, and I guess the quartz revolution is to blame, they almost entirely disappeared.

Brands like Zenith, Girard-Perregaux, Rula, Timex and Marvin all made tyre-treaded watches to put on your keychain and carry around. I thought it was just the coolest thing to own and use. Combined with a childhood passion for mechanics, as well as cars and boats, something connected in my brain. Why not revive this in a fun, accessible, but well-built way? And how can I connect this to my love for boats and yachting life? That was really the start of Volan Watches, and the Type One Tyre and Type One Deck. I am really happy with how they have turned out, and have gotten some very good responses to them so far.

They look very cool indeed! What was the biggest challenge you faced in the whole project?

To really go for it and financially invest in all the stock and commit to this adventure. I studied business administration and entrepreneurship at university, which gave me a very rational framework for something that is often purely driven by passion. With Volan, I consciously combine emotion with structure. Decisions around pricing, limited production runs, supplier selection and long-term brand focus are all formed by that background. It helps me keep Volan sustainable rather than impulsive.

Furthermore, it mostly came down to reconnecting with past suppliers and partners. Through my work with Adriaan for EZA, I met many movement suppliers, assembly partners and so on, who, once I reached out to them again, were quick to jump on board. The other challenge was to finalise the design and improve on materials, and so on. The old tyre watches dried out over time and could become brittle. That’s a no-go these days, so it took me some time to get things right. In the end, I am really happy with how things have turned out, for both editions.

You spoke about your passion for mechanics and so on. Where does that come from, and how is it all connected?

I have been in love with mechanics such as watches, boats and cars for as long as I can remember. I am fascinated by how things work mechanically, and am fortunate enough to have found a way to earn a living in something I love. I was a beach lifeguard during my University years and developed a love for the yachting lifestyle. So much so, that I know work for a Rapsody Yachts, as well as Roughneck Marine, both high-end yacht manufacturers. I also have a thing for vintage cars, so it all fits in perfectly. That’s also the reason why I not only wanted to do the tyre watch, but also do something with yachting as well. That led to the Type One Deck, and I genuinely feel it’s a natural fit. The teak and birch wood used for the outer casing is treated exactly the same way as the decking on a yacht.

I have also been quite active as a watch enthusiast, attending events and learning about history, the craftsmanship and so on over the years. I love reading about, collecting and sharing the passion of vintage watches and all the interesting stories that go around. I am thrilled I have finally found a way to combine all of those elements into a single, very personal thing.

What I also think is important is the timing. We live in a time where everything is about speed, productivity and constant connection. Volan is a reaction to that. It is deliberately mechanical, deliberately slow, and deliberately not worn on the wrist. It asks you to engage with time differently, and I feel that resonates strongly today.

What do you aim to achieve with Volan Watches?

I have always had the vision that the keyring watch, and by extension Volan as well, is an escape from everyday life. I want people to wear their Type One on the keyring of their favourite car, motorcycle or boat. I envision someone to pick up his keys, get into his car and just drive and unwind. Clear the mind and live in the moment. The Volan Type One is perfect for that, as it is a visual representation of that escape, even if it is for a brief moment. And just like back in the days, the tyre watches were hugely popular, I want it to be something cool to give your son or a best friend who achieved something monumental. Whether it’s an 18th birthday, the purchase of one’s dream car, or a milestone at work, I feel the Type One can be something to forever connect time to that moment in life.

I never wanted Volan to compete directly with traditional wristwatch brands. The Type One is not meant to replace a wristwatch, but to complement a lifestyle. It is for people who already love watches, cars or boats, and who appreciate objects with a story rather than pure utility.

So now that Volan is a reality and you’re delivering the Type Ones, what’s next?

From the start, Volan was never intended to be a one-product brand. The Type One defines the philosophy, but the long-term goal is to translate that same feeling into other formats. Whatever comes next must still feel like an escape, something connected to motion, travel and mechanical beauty. If it does not fit that idea, I simply will not do it.

I’m not counting my blessings just yet, and I first want to focus on getting all orders out the door. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my business studies and entrepreneurial adventures, is that “one” basically equals “none”. It’s not easy to achieve a first success, but even harder to repeat that and develop a brand with a clear focus and DNA. That’s what I want to achieve with Volan Watches in the long run. I am not here for another short term; I plan to be around for a while this time around.

Of course, I have ideas on how to develop Volan into a brand, and that will include variations of the Type One watches that are available now. But that’s not enough. I am also looking at how to translate this concept into a wristwatch. I don’t want to give away too much just yet, but I have some ideas that might surprise you. I don’t want to take the easy route by making a wristwatch with a rubber or wooden bezel similar to the Type One. That would be nonsensical to me, too gimmicky. I want the watch to ooze the vintage automotive or luxury yachting lifestyle in more than just a bezel. And that’s all I am going to say for now.

For more information, please visit Volan-Watches.com.