Oostwegel
A Heritage of Mastery and Innovation
For more than 70 years, the name Oostwegel has been synonymous with uncompromising craftsmanship. What began with goldsmithing for royal houses has evolved into a unique watch house where Dutch inventiveness and German precision come together.
Famous Clientele
Winston Churchill
Famous Clientele
Queen Silvia of Sweden
Louis Oostwegel: A Tradition of Excellence
The foundation of our house was laid by Louis Oostwegel. After training with the leading goldsmith Knijff and at the Dr. Bolman Institute, he refined his eye for detail at the Amsterdam Diamond Exchange.
His exceptional talent was not limited to the Netherlands; Louis gained international fame and counted icons such as Winston Churchill and Queen Silvia of Sweden among his clientele.
It was in this world of precision and craftsmanship that his son, Roland, grew up.
From Master Goldsmith to Watchmaker
Roland Oostwegel chose not merely to follow in his father’s footsteps, but to forge his own path. His journey took him to the prestigious Staatliche Zeichenakademie in Hanau, Germany, where he trained as a gem setter and master goldsmith.
His early career was marked by international recognition. During his time in Cologne he created pieces for, among others, Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis and Tina Turner.
His obsession with precision even earned him an entry in the Guinness Book of Records for crafting the world’s smallest brilliant-set earring.
When Roland took over the family business in 1989, his interest began to shift toward the complexity of time mechanisms. To master the art of Haute Horlogerie, he completed specialised training at the renowned manufacture Glashütte Original.
This laid the foundation for the unique signature of R.O. Watches: the aesthetics of a jeweller, combined with the technique of an engineer.
Space Proven: The R.O. Shock-System®
Oostwegel’s true innovative power showed itself in 2012. Where many mechanical watches are vulnerable to external forces, Roland developed a patented anti-shock system.
The ultimate test did not take place in a laboratory, but in orbit around Earth. Astronaut André Kuipers wore two R.O.1 SPACE watches during his 2012 space mission.
The mission was a resounding success: the watches withstood G-forces and vibrations with flying colours. This spaceflight-certified technology now forms the heart of the collection, including the R.O.2 launched in 2015.
Craftsmanship
Roland at work in his atelier
"During my many years of experience, I noticed that most problems with mechanical watches were caused by external shocks. Because no solution was available, I set out to develop one myself. The result is the R.O. Watches Shock-System®: a stunning symbiosis of technology and elegance."
A Personal Masterpiece
Today Roland Oostwegel is designer, goldsmith and watchmaker. In his own atelier he develops and assembles R.O. Watches.
Our watches are worn by a select circle of connoisseurs. Among them are well-known names such as former national team coach Bert van Marwijk, presenter Kees Jansma, wheelchair tennis player Sharon Walraven and actor Huub Stapel (who even wore his R.O.1 in his role as Public Prosecutor in Flikken Rotterdam).
Yet fame is not a requirement to become a Proud Wearer. What connects our clients is an appreciation for exclusivity. Every watch can be tailored to your personal wishes.
Your R.O. Watch
"In 2005 my vision took shape: to design a watch based on quality and exclusivity. The design had to be both present and understated, with simplicity as a powerful starting point."
We invite you to experience this vision yourself. Visit our atelier and let us guide you in choosing a watch that does not only tell the time, but tells your story.