The story of the Von Doren Runde Watch

Our newest model, the Von Doren Runde is named after the bird island Runde, located in the rough sea outside of Ålesund, Norway. No other island in Scandinavia has a more unique and varied population of seabirds. Runde is also known as “Treasure Island” because of the treasure found here in 1972.

On the 19th of January 1725 the Dutch merchant ship Akerendam set sail from Texel outside of Amsterdam with course to Batavia in Indonesia. The ship was loaded with goods and money to be traded for spices and other valuable products in the far east. In total, the ship had a crew of 200 and carried 19 chests with coins in gold and silver.

To avoid pirates in the English Channel the crew decided to sail Akerendam north of Scotland, but the ship lost its course because of a terrible snow storm. On the morning of March 8th 1725 the people of Runde witnessed pieces of the wreckage floating in the waterfront. During the following days inhabitants found remains of the wreckage and dead bodies scattered over large areas around the island. All 200 aboard perished.

Almost 250 years later, on the 16th of July 1972, a Norwegian and two Swedish sport divers found some coins and one of the cannons from Akerendam in the bay south-east of Runde. Over the next three weeks they salvaged almost half a ton coins in gold and silver. The finders got 75% of the treasure, Norway got 15% and Holland received 10%. The Norwegian cut of the findings was split between Myntkabinettet in Oslo and Bergen Sjøfartsmuseum.

To this day the Runde Treasure is one of the biggest findings in Europe, and an important piece of Norwegian and European history.

The Runde comes with a choice of Ocean Blue or Havana Brown sunburst dial. The colors on the dials are extremely vivid and must be experienced live.

The leaf hands are equipped with Super-LumiNova for excellent readability. The 39mm stainless steel case holds a Swiss Made Ronda quartz movement, and the caseback has the engraving of a gold ducat from the findings. There is a choice of either brushed or polished steel case.

Every watch has its own unique number engraved on the caseback, and comes with a booklet that tells the story behind this noteworthy collection.