Hands-On With The Volan Type One Tyre And Wheel Watches
Do you remember tyre watches? I had completely forgotten all about them until the founder and owner of Volan, Diederik van Golen, visited our Fratello office a year ago. Being a boat and car guy, he devised a modern interpretation of the tyre watch concept. These were only drawings back then, but they looked great. A few months later, he visited again with a prototype, and more recently, the early working models. He designed two of them, one with a rubber tyre for those who are into (classic) cars, and one with a wooden “deck” for those who are into yachting. Meet the Volan Type One watch!
The first time I saw a tyre watch was at Marvin in Switzerland many years ago. Later, my colleague Tomas Rosputinsky published this story on his Marvin Tyre Watch. I believe that the Marvin brand is not in business anymore, or at least not very active, as far as I know.
The Volan Type One —Wheel and Tyre editions
Like me, Volan founder van Golen discovered tyre watches many years ago. The thought of reviving the tyre watch never left his mind, and when he started working in the yachting industry, ideas to bring back this type of watch started to develop. Hence, the Volan Type One with the wooden wheel should remind you of a yacht’s teak deck. The brand he founded aims to bring back the tyre watch.
“We wanted to capture that feeling; when you step into your car or onto your boat, turn the key, and for a moment, everything else disappears. The Type One is more than a watch. It’s a tribute to those who take the scenic route and find joy in the journey,” says Diederik van Golen.
The Volan Type One, in whatever version, should transport you back to the golden age of motoring. The tyre watch back then was an excellent gift for those who were into car racing, speed, and mechanics. To expand its audience, Volan created another edition for those who also love to spend time on the water. But regardless of whether you’re an avid motorist or a keen skipper, you can buy one just to enjoy it.
Below deck
I had a chance to go hands-on with the first versions of the Volan Type One tyre watches, one with the rubber tyre (reminiscent of the Dutch Vredestein profile) and one with the teak deck wood. Although the tyre watch with the rubber is perhaps closer to the original, the teak deck version is the one I liked best.
Perhaps because I am watching all of the “Below Deck” series on Netflix, or because I used to join my (step)parents to sail the Dutch waters in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Anyway, it’s the one I’d pick for myself, but I can imagine if you’re into classic cars, the other Volan Type One is for you. Both watches come with a leather strap and a (signed) split ring.
The teak deck edition has a white dial, and the tyre edition has a matching black dial. The dials take inspiration from vintage racing gauges. Both dials have Super-LumiNova (BGW9) applied to the hands and markers, so a ride back in the dark (on water or the road) will not prevent you from being able to tell the time. Oh, and when you’re without a roof and it starts to rain, you won’t have to worry about the watch being damaged due to its 50 meters of water resistance.
Self-winding movement
Whereas the original tyre watch was powered by a hand-wound movement (Marvin), Volan opted for an automatic movement. And that’s a wise decision, as grabbing the crown of those tyre watches and winding it isn’t very convenient. This means that inside the Type One, you will find a Sellita SW-200 self-winding movement. The rotor has been engraved with the Volan logo.
The stainless-steel case, grade 316L, measures 46mm in diameter and is 13 mm thick. However, the wooden wheel or rubber tyre adds another 12mm to its diameter, for a total of 58mm. The Volan Type One is available to pre-order now (and will ship by Christmas 2025). The first production batch of 100 pieces (of each version) will receive a unique engraved number. Volan has let us know you can request a specific number (if it is still available).
What I think of the Volan Type One
What do you give the person who has everything already? If you or someone you know is lucky enough to have a collection of nice watches, a great fountain pen, a boat, a Porsche 911 (or any other great car), a full golf cart, etc. An item like Volan’s new Type One would make a wonderful gift. They are made with those who appreciate the finer things in life in mind. If the person in question has a classic car or a nice boat, the Volan Type One will undoubtedly be appreciated. And if you are this person, you can also treat yourself to something nice from Volan. It will also be a conversation starter when you place the key with the tyre or wheel watch on the bar.
The build quality of the two Type One watches impressed me. The wheel or tyre, watch itself, and leather strap are all properly produced and assembled. If you prefer an original Marvin tyre watch, you can look for one, but this modern variation will last and be less affected by shocks or bumps due to its new movement, sapphire crystal, etc. It’s an object that’s not just beautiful and functional, but you can truly put it to use.
The Volan Type One with the rubber tyre retails for €785 (excluding VAT). Visit the official Volan website for more information.
