The History of Skagen Designs
In 1987, Henrik and Charlotte Jorst came to the United States from their native Denmark to follow a dream: that of owning and running their own business. Skagen Designs was founded by these two natives of Copenhagen on the principle that beautifully designed, high-quality objects can be created at reasonable prices. The Skagen Collection of watches reflects the Jorsts' creative Danish spirit with clean, elegant designs, skillful craftsmanship and technical perfection. When you purchase a piece from the Skagen Collection, you become part of an international community of Skagen owners who believe in a philosophy of design and manufacturing excellence.

Skagen Trend Spotting
In the market place, time never stands still and so our innovation never sits idle. Our design team is on the pulse of current fashions, with regular visits to design centers of the world including Denmark, Switzerland,Italy, France, New York and Hong Kong. We are never content to follow established trends. We stay true to our classic design philosophy and interpret trends accordingly. We observe, listen and innovate - all to create lasting design pieces.

The Result
The production of such lasting design pieces often demands special processes and tooling. These are often a challenge to create; however, we are never satisfied with "close enough". We continually push and fine-tune designs to stay true to our standards. We know what we want and are not satisfied until the design, material and workmanship are all just right. The result of such hard work and dedication speak for themselves in the jaw dropping enthusiasm and excitement created whenever anyone views our product line.

Maintaining Your Skagen Watch

• Ensure that the crown is returned to the normal operating position before the watch comes in contact with water.
• Do not take your watch into a Hot Tub or Sauna.
• Under normal conditions, the seals in your Skagen watch will deteriorate and may need to be replaced every 2-3 years.
• Have your Skagen watch serviced by an official service center.

All Skagen watches operate with standard batteries. When necessary, any jeweler can replace them for you. Different models are water resistant to varying degrees. Please refer to the back of your watch for the water resistant rating.

• Pull the crown out to the middle position.
• Rotate the crown to set date
• Pull the crown out to fully extended position and rotate crown to set desired time.
• Push the crown back to its normal position. The date and time are now set.
  

  Cleaning Your Skagen Watch
  Skagen suggests the following solutions for cleaning metal and crystal surfaces:

• 3:1 solution of ammonia based window cleaner to water
• 4:1 solution of rubbing alcohol to water.
• Do not use soap products.

These suggested solutions will evaporate cleanly from metal and glass surfaces. Soap will leave residue behind when dry.

To clean the case and crystal:
Moisten a soft cloth with one of the above solutions. Gently wipe the case and crystal clean. Be careful not to put too much stress on the crystal as you clean. *NEVER immerse or soak the case/crystal portion of the watch, regardless of water resistance rating. Moisture could seep past the seals over time.

To clean the band or strap:
Skagen soft mesh bands are easily adjustable. Simply insert a small screwdriver or similar tool into the clasp. Lift up the clasp without applying pressure to the thin pin across the clasp and move to desired position. Snap closed securely. Make sure the clasp is set in one of the indentations on the back of the band. Link bands are completely adjustable anywhere watches are serviced.

• Metal watchbands
  Dip a cotton swab in the above solution, and gently rub it into the soiled portion of the band. For more intricate mesh bands, you may want to use a soft bristle toothbrush or nailbrush. Be sure to cover the case of the watch during this process so as not to soak it. For stubborn soil, you may want to bring it to a jeweler for a professional cleaning.
  
  
• Rubber watchstraps
  Simply wipe them down with a damp, soft cloth. Avoid soaps and solvents as they may dry or crack the plastic.
  
  
• Leather watchstraps: Top Grain
  Top grain leather can be characterized by its smooth, somewhat shiny appearance. To clean this type of leather, follow the same procedure as with the rubber watchband. Simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth, using water only. You may want to use leather conditioner or a small amount of hand lotion to keep the leather supple over time. Top grain leather may develop a milky "haze" if left alone for extended periods. This can simply be wiped away or removed with leather conditioner.
  
  
• Leather watchstraps: Nubuck
  This is essentially full grain leather with the top layer shaved off, leaving a flat, smooth finish. A product called a "nubuck eraser" can be found at better shoe repair shops. It will help to remove most light stains and debris from nubuck.