Since 2012, Kaname Watches has maintained a list of no more than twelve mechanical watches at Klokstraat 12 in Ghent. Founder Ilse Verhoeven evaluates every prospective piece against four consistent questions before it earns a place in our counter.
01
DOES IT KEEP GOOD TIME AFTER A WEEK ON TOMASZ’S BENCH?
Ilse Verhoeven never adds a watch to our short list based on manufacturer claims alone. Before any piece joins the counter, watchmaker Tomasz Wrona opens the caseback and monitors its movement across multiple positions over seven full days.
The calibre must maintain consistent amplitude, clean beat error, and steady daily rates before we approve it. If an escapement exhibits erratic variance or unstable regulation under observation on the bench, that watch does not join the collection at Klokstraat 12.
02
CAN IT BE SERVICED IN TEN YEARS?
We deliberately select mechanical watches designed for enduring ownership and straightforward long-term maintenance. Tomasz inspects whether balance assemblies, mainsprings, reversing wheels, and case gaskets will remain accessible ten years down the road.
Proprietary modules, glued components, or movements lacking accessible spare parts are rejected immediately. A watch that cannot be fully disassembled, cleaned, oiled, and regulated by an independent watchmaker has no place on the counter tray in our Ghent shop.
03
DOES IT SIT FLAT ON A 15 CM WRIST?
Ergonomic balance matters far more than case diameter figures on paper. Ilse assesses how caseback depth, lug curvature, and strap attachment points settle on smaller wrists, adopting a 15 cm wrist circumference as our reference standard.
Watches such as the Aldren Square 28 and Corvo Dress 34 lie comfortably flush without rocking or sliding off centre. If a watch feels top-heavy, snags against a shirt cuff, or resists resting naturally on the tray, we pass on it.
04
WOULD WE WEAR IT OURSELVES AND WHEN DOES A WATCH LEAVE THE LIST?
Our final question is simple: would Ilse, Tomasz, Amara, or Jonas wear this watch every day? We cap the collection at twelve pieces so we can genuinely advocate for each one.
When a maker modifies case proportions, switches to inferior movement suppliers, or discontinues replacement parts, Ilse removes that model from the list. Watches leave our counter quietly, ensuring our current selection of five pieces represents mechanical integrity we support without hesitation.
