Annelinde Dunselman, an independent watchmaker and founder of Dunselman Watchmaking, didn't plan to be a watchmaker. - photocredit: Monique Eller Photography
Annelinde Dunselman, an independent watchmaker and founder of Dunselman Watchmaking, didn’t plan to be a watchmaker.
“As a child, I was fascinated by watches... and by everything that sparkled, ticked and existed in miniature.
“I first studied theatre, and later, social sciences – disciplines where imagination, method, precision and humanity come together.
“When I later discovered goldsmithing and, soon after, watchmaking, it felt as if everything aligned: the poetry of time, the logic of mechanics and the beauty of aesthetics”.
She credits her earlier pursuit in theatre and social sciences for teaching her how to look keenly at detail, balance, rhythm and emotion.
“I learned to recognise when something feels right, and that’s something I apply every day,” says Dunselman.
In watchmaking, every line, shadow and reflection has meaning.
The ability to create something that evokes emotion comes directly from the world of art.
Dunselman’s background in social sciences certainly gave her a more human perspective – the understanding that time is not just something to measure, but something to experience.
Dunselman: Female watchmakers often bring a different sensibility.
Nowadays, her days as a watchmaker are anything but typical.
“I usually start early, in silence and with focus.
“My day is spent between sketches, computer design and the workbench.
“Sometimes, I completely lose track of time; the work demands that kind of focus.
“In the evenings, I often continue – writing, designing, reflecting.
“The creative process doesn’t stop when the door closes,” she shares.
Integrity in craftsmanship
Dunselman describes herself as a watchmaker who tries to reconcile technique, design and poetry.
“I strive for integrity in craftsmanship – no gimmicks or trends, but meaningful work made with care and attention.
“Every detail must make sense, from the mechanical logic to the aesthetic tension.
“Inspiration doesn’t come when I chase it; it appears when I make space for wonder.
“Art and culture, nature, conversations with friends, fellow craftspeople, artists and collectors, all nourish my thinking,” the Dutch watchmaker says reflectively.
Dunselman says her approach to watchmaking is from the inside out, as she looks at it from within.
“When I was an apprentice in the workshop of a family-owned jeweller, I had the privilege of sitting at the bench right next to the old master.
He once told me: “Look at the problem from the inside. Step into the movement and see what’s happening.”
Even though she had seen the mechanism from every angle, this perspective changed everything for her – it made watchmaking even more fascinating.
“It was like entering a universe, and I was allowed to explore within it.
“I also met a sculptor who told me that when she created a portrait, she first had to engage deeply with both the person and the material before she could begin.
“She said she would, in a way, step inside the person and the material to discover what was hidden there.
“The sculpture, she said, was born from within.
“That stayed with me and continues to inspire my own process,” says Dunselman.
For Dunselman Watchmaking, she begins with the construction, then the form, and only afterwards, the finishing.
She believes beauty naturally emerges when something is well-built.
Every component must have its own reason to exist.
“Sometimes, the design also serves the watchmaker − to make the working process easier − or it serves the decoration, allowing the technical and the artistic to strengthen one another.
“To me, watchmaking is a dialogue between human, time and material.”
Staying authentic
Seeing her name on the dial of The Black Tulip has left a lasting impact on her.
“That name stands for responsibility.
“Everything I make, I must be able to stand behind – both literally and morally.
“It’s the result of years of patience, trial and error, and the belief that true beauty cannot be rushed,” says Dunselman who is currently working on her second watch.
“It’s a new calibre with additional functions. The challenge lies in innovation while preserving the soul – to evolve without losing authenticity,” she reveals.
To Dunselman, watchmaking is a beautiful craft.
She believes in learning slowly and being humble before the craft and to think not in terms of success, but of mastery.
“I believe the future will be more open and diverse.
“I hope more women will start their own brands, because that enriches the field.
“Female watchmakers often bring a different sensibility – an awareness of form, rhythm and meaning.
“Not better or worse, just different.
“And that difference makes the craft stronger,” she declares.
Her advice to other female watchmakers: “Work with care, learn from others, follow your own pace – and enjoy it!
“Watchmaking is not a sprint – it’s a lifelong dialogue with time.”
