Our Story

Est. 1976 · A family name

From a workshop bench, to your wrist

Halven is not a brand we invented. It is a family name — carried from a repair bench in 1976 to your door today.

My father, Henrik Halven, opened his workshop in 1976. He was thirty-one. For fifty years he repaired more watches than he sold — and every single one left his bench wrapped as a gift, whether the customer asked or not.

He had one rule, and he never bent it: a watch is never bought for oneself. It is given. Given to mark something — a first job, a wedding, a father to a son.

I grew up behind his counter. I learned his materials before I learned to drive: 316L steel, sapphire-coated glass, leather that ages instead of wearing out. One year ago, I brought his name online — the same rules, the same materials, none of the boutique markup.

This year, two anniversaries meet: fifty years of his shop, one year of Halven online. We could not let that pass like any other year.

— Martin Halven, son of Henrik · Est. 1976
Henrik Halven at his workshop bench, 1976
1976

Henrik's Bench

Henrik Halven, 31, opens a small watch workshop. He repairs more than he sells — and every watch leaves his bench wrapped as a gift.

Henrik and young Martin inside the Halven shop, 1994
1994

The Shop

The bench becomes a shop. Martin grows up behind this counter, learning his father's materials: 316L steel, sapphire glass, honest leather.

Martin Halven holding the 50 and 1 anniversary box with two watches
2026

The 50 & 1

Fifty years of the shop. One year since Martin took the name online. To mark both, every Founder now leaves with a second watch, free.

"A watch is never bought for oneself — it is given."
Henrik Halven · the rule of the house since 1976
The 50 & 1 Anniversary

Buy one Founder. The second is free.

One to keep, one to give — the way my father always did it. Both full watches, both under the 2-year warranty. Your second Founder is added automatically at checkout.

£139 £278 £69.90 · £34.95 a watch
Shop The Founder