Black Tulip

The Black Tulip – A Pursuit of Precision

The Black Tulip is my personal expression of watchmaking. As a young, independentwatchmaker from the Netherlands, I wanted to create a first watch that speaks in quiet detail devoid of unnecessary noise. Designed and manufactured in an edition of just 10 pieces, this watch reflects my dedication to refinement, emotion and modesty.

Named after the legend of the black tulip, this watch symbolizes the pursuit of the unattainable – the belief that true beauty lies not in excess, but in the balance between proportion, intention and execution. Simplicity is not the absence of complexity, but its ultimate refinement. The story of the black tulip captures our shared fascination with rare perfection, combining history, economics and botany. In this spirit, I have created a watch that is both rooted in heritage and quietly transcendent.

Case & Dial – Sculpted Light and Form

The Black Tulip is housed in a compact and elegant 38mm case (11.9mm thick), with scalloped flanks, a concave bezel and an engraving between the lugs indicating its origin: "Created in the Kingdom of the Netherlands". Along the vertical wall of the bezel, my signature tulip-shaped 'D' is engraved in alternating directions, creating a unique sculptural pattern.

The dial, consisting of four different layers, is designed to play with light and depth. It has a laser-engraved pattern that continues smoothly regardless of the height differences. At first glance, this pattern gives a calm and quiet relief / texture to the dial. The pattern is so subtle that only from very close up or when you know it, it can be perceived by the eye. The silver- white surface is brushed vertically, while the small seconds layer has a fine radial brushing, creating a subtle contrast. The concave minute markers mirror the bezel, drawing the eye inward and enhancing the sense of fluid movement. Highly polished steel hour markers, the satin-brushed indexes reflect the light with precision. The small seconds hand features a black tulip as a counterbalance. Though complex in construction, the dial remains serene and balanced – an interplay of texture, geometry and intention.

Hands – Handcrafted, Human

The hour and minute hands are handcrafted and finished to the highest standards. Their slender proportions and rounded polished surfaces are testaments to the hand of the craftsman. These are not just indications of time, but gestures of human presence – considered, refined and intimate.

Movement & Craftsmanship

The Black Tulip is powered by the in-house calibre D202.5 — a mechanical manual-winding movement developed over more than two years in close collaboration with specialist engineers. Featuring a zero-reset mechanism it is composed of 125 components and measures 31.8 mm in diameter and 7.8 mm in height, nearly filling the entire case.

At its heart lies a free-sprung balance spring and a variable inertia balance wheel ensuring long-term precision and stability. The movement beats at 3 Hz (21,600 vibrations per hour) and offers a generous power reserve of 100 hours. It contains 19 jewels to reduce friction and enhance durability.

One of the most poetic elements of the zero-reset is the mobile of the small seconds, which is largely made by hand. It is a subtle complication, but technically challenging. I chose it for its meaning: the ability to synchronize precisely is, to me, the very essence of time. For my first creation, I did not want to showcase grand complications, but something discreet and quietly profound. Its complexity, delicacy, and symbolism are what make it such a joy — to make, and to wear.

Every component of the movement is finished with the utmost care, adhering to traditional haute horlogerie standards but with a personal touch:

- The bridges are sandblasted, then meticulously finished with hand-polished anglage.

- The main plate combines perlage and sandblasting for visual richness and subtle texture.

- The wheels will feature circular graining, anglage and polishing by hand, as well as laser-engraved detailing.

- The ratchet and crown wheels are decorated with circular graining and precise laser engraving.

- The screws are black-polished by hand.

In the lower half of the calibre, delicately skeletonised bridges offer a glimpse into themechanical heartbeat of the watch. Decorative positive-relief engravings on key components complete the mechanical language.

This is a calibre that tells a story — not only of time, but also of patience, solitude, andcraftsmanship. It is the product of slow, thoughtful work, where no surface is untouched and no line is left unresolved.

Edition – A Singular Offering

Each Black Tulip is presented on a small-scale brown ostrich leather strap, fitted with a signature Dunselman pin buckle. Only 10 pieces exist worldwide—each one a quiet but powerful celebration of precision, purity, and the human pursuit of something greater than ourselves.