Atlantica - 01.06.2006, Page 91

90 AT L A N T I CA
ICELANDa
SPECIAL PROMOTION
With no daylight savings time, Iceland is permanently on GMT or ‘Greenwich Mean
Time’, making it literally the land where time begins... and a particularly suitable
backdrop for three young Icelanders who are passionate about design and the enduring
pleasures of a finely crafted timepiece.
The collaboration of a watchmaker, collector and designer has produced the JS
Watch Co., one of the world’s smallest manufacturers of stylish, quality watches.
Founded in November 2005, it is already attracting a discerning clientele. The compa-
ny’s location – in the heart of the capital’s trendy downtown ‘101’ district – is reflected
in its latest line of timeless wristwatches: the “Reykjavik 101” for men and women.
Boosted by word-of-mouth recommendations, the relatively new business is flour-
ishing under the watchful eye of master watchmaker Gilbert Ó Gudjónsson, with the
help of his partners Grímkell Pétur Sigurthórsson, Julíus Steinar Heidarsson, and son
Sigurdur Björn Gilbertsson. A watchmaker since 1966, Gilbert has been running a
watch store for more than thirty years and was the natural choice for the company’s
quality manager. JS Watch Co., Laugavegur 62, 551-4100. www.jswatch.com
Best Windows in Town If you have any weakness for French design, you won’t be able to pass by the down-
town windows of Kisan without stopping in. Owners Thórunn Edda Anspach and
Olivier Bremond lived in France for many years before deciding to move to Iceland
with their family and open the small concept shop on Laugavegur. Kisan, which
opened last October, mostly carries French designers that you can’t find anywhere
else in Iceland. Though the shop has a big selection of children’s clothes like the line
Bonpoint, it’s not just for kids. You’ll also find the Annick Goutal perfume line, Jamin
Puech bags and accessories, and Tse Tse tableware.
Laugavegur 1, 101 Reykjavík, 561-6262. www.kisan.is
Iceland: Where Time Begins
Ocean Couture Eggert the furrier is feeling proudly purple these days. No, you won’t find any plum-
colored fur coats at Eggert Jóhannsson’s fur shop, located in downtown Reykjavík. But
Eggert was recently appointed to the exclusive Purple Club, a society of furriers of
international renown.
“It’s good to have been recognized,” says the furrier, whose custom-designed fish-
skin jackets have appealed to moneyed fashionistas for years.
Eggert joins the Purple Club not only because his furs are internationally chic, but
his work with “ocean leather” puts him at the forefront of his industry.
Ocean leather is part of a growing movement in sustainable development and some-
thing Eggert takes very seriously by pioneering what’s called the complete use of raw
materials. In Eggert’s case, this means tailoring gorgeous designs out of materials that
would otherwise be thrown away.
Skólavördustígur 38, 101 Reykjavík. 551-1112.
For Fishing Folk The first stop on any Icelandic fishing trip has to be Veidihornid in downtown
Reykjavík. Anglers behind the counter can assist with places to fish, water conditions,
what flies to use and what weather will be like. And Veidihornid carries the broadest
range of “deadly salmon flies” in the country.
A new feature is the store’s website, www.rifflehitch.com. Launched in June, the
website allows anglers to order flies worldwide, for pick-up at the shop or for delivery
at a lodge in the hinterlands. The site also provides in-depth information about rivers
and fishing statistics.
Veidihornid, Hafnarstræti 5, 551-6760. www.veidihornid.is
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