How a meeting with national team coach Bert van Marwijk in 2010 led to a fully unique orange watch and the birth of the Chromatics® philosophy.
It is 2009. In the corridors of Roda JC I meet Bert van Marwijk. With the tension of the upcoming European Championship already in the air, we talk about craftsmanship, about the R.O.1, and about the essence of time. During our conversations a bold idea took shape: a watch that would not only symbolise the passion of the Dutch national team, but embody it.
I proposed to Bert that we create a fully unique piece. Not a subtle accent, but a statement: a completely orange watch!
The power of contrast
The design was radical. Dial and strap were finished in deep orange — a homage to our national pride. Yet watchmaking demands precision; a watch must first and foremost remain an instrument. That is why we chose pure white hands, filled with Super-Luminova.
In sport, after all, time is anything but abstract. Especially when regular playing time runs out and the extra minutes appear on the board, flawless contrast is essential to read the time at a glance — even in the twilight of the stadium.
Craft without compromise
Building a single unique piece demands a different discipline than series production. For this particular watch we had to adapt tools separately and craft every component by hand. It was labour-intensive, but that is the price of exclusivity. On the case back we had number 14 engraved — a tribute to Johan Cruijff and his legendary shirt number. Especially for Bert.
It filled me with genuine pride to see him on the sidelines during the tournament, that orange icon on his wrist. Not as a loud detail, but as a signature of his own: a mark of character.
A legacy in colour
Later came a special moment in Heerlen, organised by the 2010 Corio League. There I was able to present Bert with a gold R.O.1, and Kees Jansma received a steel R.O.1 Sport as a token of appreciation. In return I received a gift I still treasure: an orange football, signed by the entire Dutch national squad.
Looking back on that project now, in 2026, I see more than just a unique watch. Although today's R.O.3 is technically more advanced — think of the addition of the tachymeter — it was in 2010 that the seed was planted for what we now call 'Chromatics®'.
Colour has never left me since. Bert's orange watch was the inspiration to integrate colour into our sport collections. It was a one-off gesture that paved the way for the refined, colourful watchmaking R.O. Watches is known for today.