Van der Gang might not sound familiar to you in relation to watches, yet chances are that you have already seen some of their work. Located in the historic town of Dokkum, in the north of The Netherlands, the brand finds it roots in the precision mechanics, where it is capable of developing and making parts at a microscopic level used in space flight, laboratories, medical facilities and the rumor goes that they even made some of the steel watch cases used by AHCI-member Christiaan van der Klaauw. No wonder that these technical capabilities also form the basis of any Van der Gang watch.

Introduction of the Van der Gang Vlieger at the Aviodrome airplane museum in The Netherlands. The building on the right is the old terminal from Amsterdam Airport.

Van der Gang’s design approach is very straight forward. He creates simple elegance by focusing on the essence and execute this to the highest standards. The result is a watch that is quite understated in appearance yet up close dazzles you with refined details and a top-notch finish.

Van der Gang Vlieger is stainless steel

Refreshing is the fact that Van der Gang  makes no secret from the fact that he uses ETA-Calibre’s as base movements. Yet proudly they create in-house most of the added complications. So a reliable engine, meets the exclusivity of Manufacture modification.

Large crown and robust pushers on the DLC-model

This is also the case with their newest model, which in essence can be seen as their most sportive watch to date. Inspired by the ever enchanting world of aviation, it features a combination of complications that serve you probably very well in a cockpit but just as well on the ground. ETA-Valjoux 7751 is modified to feauture a slightly larger date, AM/PM indicator at 12 o’clock and a second time zone with a central hand. The chronograph function has furthermore left in tact, summing up a nice but most of all very practical blend of complications.

Van der Gang Vlieger with DLC-coated stainless case, crown and pushers

To stay in the theme, the anthracite dial features luminova filled hands and numerals, a first for Van der Gang. To stay in the theme is this watch fitted with a robust crown and large pushers. The case is available in either stainless steel or stainless steel with a DLC-coating. Especially the latter gives this watch a very robust look. Although Van der Gang refers to this watch as 20044, it is very likely that it will be known as the “Vlieger”, the Dutch word for “Flieger”. A far more appealing name and also because it is an addition to this genre of watches, and quite a nice one!

Special thanks to Peter van Bruggen from Goudsmederij Van Bruggen for making the photo’s.

Martin Green