GoS Watches Fullerö Sword Watch Review
The GoS Watches Fullerö Sword is a stunning creation from Sweden. Working alongside Master Bladesmith, Conny Perrson, GoS Watches once again draws inspiration from traditional Scandinavian metalworking. Carl Eady reveals the secrets of the Fullerö Sword, a watch inspired by an ancient Viking weapon.
GoS Watches Fullerö Sword – introduction
GoS Watches was founded in 2007. Patrik Sjögren, the brand’s owner, director and master watchmaker sought to create unique timepieces, celebrating the landscapes, myths and natural phenomena that define his homeland. Nordic glaciers, flowers, forests and the Northern Lights have all served as inspiration for previous collections; however, on this occasion, it is the turn of ancient Viking weaponry.
Image – Patrik Sjögren
The Fullerö Sword watch takes inspiration from an ancient Viking sword discovered in Fullerö, a village approximately ten kilometres north of Uppsala in Sweden. The region has a long association with ironmaking dating back to the Bronze Age and is believed to be home to some of Europe’s earliest examples of iron production.
Image – Fullerö Sword
Back in 1969, archaeologists led by Professor Greta Arwidson unearthed an ancient and beautifully preserved Viking sword. Now known as ‘The Fullerö Sword’, it is estimated to have been forged circa 1000 years ago during the Viking Age and it remains one of the finest surviving examples of pattern-welded Scandinavian sword smithing. GoS’s long-term master bladesmith partner, Conny Perrsen once again displays his Damascus steel forging skills, delivering a modern expression of the ancient technique.
Image – Conny Persson
Since the brand’s inception, Damascus steel has been at the heart of GoS Watches. Beyond its distinctive appearance, it stands for the principles that define true craftsmanship: skilled hands, honest materials and time-honoured techniques.
GoS Watches Fullerö Sword – case
There is much to admire about the case of the Fullerö sword and despite its masculine proportions, it displays multiple decorative finishing techniques and polished contrasts. The company has adorned the 41.5 mm stainless steel case with the GoS four-line braided motif and inlaid each engraved line with dark enamel. The side of the case is satin finished and features deeply recessed grooves. These have been highly polished, enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the watch.
The familiar GoS crown is also highly polished, while each groove has been bead blasted. The vertical flank of the crown features a recess that plays host to the brand’s triskele emblem.
The braided motif gracing the bezel is replicated at the rear of the housing. It encircles a pane of sapphire crystal, a feature that affords a view of the La Joux-Perret G101 movement beating within.
A domed sapphire crystal with double-sided anti-reflective coating sits above the dial, while additional hardening of its outer surface enhances scratch resistance.
GoS Watches Fullerö Sword – dial
As with most GoS creations, the dial immediately draws attention. To recreate the appearance of the Fullerö sword’s pattern-welded core, Patrik once again collaborated with Conny Persson.
Like many Viking blades, the original Fullerö Sword used twisted rods of layered steel to create its distinctive pattern-welded core and to increase the hardness of the blade. The resulting surface patterns were a beautiful by-product of the forging process. Conny has employed the same underlying principles with the Fullerö Sword, albeit adapted to suit the proportions of a timepiece.
Initially, the intention had been to replicate the exact four-rod arrangement seen on the original sword. However, experimentation ultimately led the Swedish brand towards a more complex solution better suited to the dimensions of a watch dial. Each rod now contains seventeen individual layers separated by thin sheets of nickel designed to heighten visual contrast. Under direct light, the dial becomes almost animated. The layered steel ripples and changes character constantly. The steel alternates between shades of charcoal, silver and graphite, with an almost liquid appearance. Importantly, due to the forging process, each dial is unique.
The Fullerö Sword is offered in three dial executions: Raw Steel, Midnight Blue and Glowing Steel. Of the three, the Midnight Blue is perhaps the most compelling. Its darker tones exaggerate the depth of the forged steel and represent a darker, more atmospheric Nordic character.
Image – unfinished dial in Conny’s hand
Rather than employing conventional applied hour markers, GoS Watches has developed a highly innovative sapphire index ring. The ring sits around the dial perimeter, with hour indexes machined into the inner chamfer and minute markers positioned along the outer chamfer. During daylight, the sapphire refracts light beautifully. At night, however, it reveals one of the watch’s most ingenious details.
Behind the sapphire ring sits a luminescent circlet created using 3D Lumicast® technology. Unlike conventional lume colours, this ring emits a rich orange glow intended to replicate the appearance of intensely heated steel fresh from the forge. It is an inspired detail and one that celebrates the company’s blacksmithing roots.
The prevailing time is indicated with spear-shaped hour and minute hands, while the seconds are shown with a long slender centre hand. Executed in a ‘high gloss polished gold plated finish’, they wonderfully contrast with the textured Damascus, while subtly reinforcing the sword-inspired theme.
GoS Watches Fullerö Sword – movement
Powering the Fullerö Sword is the La Joux-Perret G101 automatic calibre, customised specifically for GoS Watches. The movement offers a generous power reserve of approximately 65 hours, surpassing that of several other similarly sized movements (25.6 mm x 4.45 mm). Indeed, the modest dimensions of the Calibre G101 have allowed GoS to deliver a beautifully proportioned watch that should suit most wrists.
Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement is presented in an anthracite hue and the bridges are adorned with Côtes de Genève decoration. A skeletonised tungsten rotor, incorporating the GoS triskele emblem in gold, harnesses the natural motion of the wrist and completes the mechanical scene.
GoS Watches Fullerö Sword – strap
GoS pairs the Fullerö Sword with a handcrafted black moose leather strap embossed with the brand’s braided motif. Both tactile and supple, the strap also proves a perfect match for the model’s Nordic character. The accompanying pin and buckle are also fashioned from characterful Damascus steel.
Closing thoughts
Successful independent watchmakers thrive on points of difference and above all, authenticity. This is precisely where GoS Watches excels with Patrik Sjögren, the owner and director of the brand, celebrating Scandinavian culture and Nordic history, while incorporating Swedish metallurgy and traditional handcraftsmanship.
With the Fullerö Sword, there is unquestionable authenticity. Every detail feels connected; the hand forged Damascus steel dial, the braided Viking motifs and the spear-shaped hour and minute hands all complement each other wonderfully.
Due to the high quotient of artisanal craftsmanship employed in the making of this watch, production volumes will remain limited. GoS anticipates producing only around eighteen examples annually. Each watch will be engraved with its own serial number and year of production.
Further reading
Technical specifications
- Model: GoS Fullerö Sword
- Case: stainless steel, diameter 41.5 mm; height 11 mm; water resistance 5 ATM (50 metres); sapphire crystal to the front and sapphire caseback
- Dial: hand forged Damascus Steel option – Midnight Blue, Raw Steel or Glowing Steel
- Functions: hours; minutes; central seconds
- Movement: Automatic La Joux-Perret G101 with GoS modifications and hand finishing. Frequency 28,800 vph (4 Hz), approximately 65 hours of power reserve
- Strap: moose leather and Damascus stainless steel pin & buckle
- Price range: €11,500 – €12,500 + applicable taxes – depending on selected options (RRP as 5.6.2026)