With a bespoke timepiece for His Serene Highness Prince Albert II and an exclusive charitable creation for the Princess Charlene Foundation, the Dutch heritage house unveils its next chapter. In a moment where history, craftsmanship and philanthropy converge with rare harmony, Van Bergen 1795 prepares to unveil its modern identity in Monaco with a debut that feels both deeply personal and historically significant.

Set against the unmistakable elegance of Top Marques Monaco, the brand will launch to the public on May 6, followed by a private evening event on May 7, where its most important creations will be revealed within a more intimate and distinguished setting.

These two moments, one public and one private, mirror the very essence of Monaco itself, where global spectacle and quiet exclusivity coexist effortlessly. At the heart of this debut lies a gesture of extraordinary significance.

A bespoke timepiece has been created exclusively for His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, and will be presented on May 6th during the VIP opening of Top Marques, developed in coordination with the Palais Princier.

Alongside this, an exclusive watch has been designed in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, a piece that will be auctioned in Monaco to benefit the Foundation’s vital humanitarian work. “This is not simply the launch of a watch,” Baron R.A.U. Juchter van Bergen Quast, President of Van Bergen 1795 told NEWS.MC in an exclusive interview. “It is the continuation of a legacy that began over two centuries ago, one rooted in precision, sound and the passing of time itself. What we are presenting in Monaco is both a tribute and a new beginning.”

There is a quiet poetry in this moment. A brand born from the resonance of bells now returns to the world stage, not through sound alone, but through time itself.

To understand Van Bergen is to understand a legacy that was never invented, only passed on.

Founded in 1795 in the Netherlands, the Van Bergen family built its name as master bell founders, shaping bronze into instruments that would define the soundscapes of cities, churches and communities for generations.

For more than two centuries, six generations dedicated themselves to the art of resonance, creating carillons whose voices travelled across Europe and the United States. These were not merely bells. They were markers of life’s most meaningful moments, celebrations, ceremonies and collective memory. Their craftsmanship earned global recognition, with awards at world fairs in Vienna, Paris and Philadelphia, placing the Van Bergen name among Europe’s most respected artisans.

Royal connections followed naturally. In 1950, Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard visited the Heiligerlee foundry, recognising the cultural importance of the craft. Just two years later, Van Bergen bells were presented to U.S. President Harry Truman, a gesture of diplomacy and artistry that still resonates today at Arlington. “Every bell we cast carried a voice,” explains Erik Meijer, CEO. “It carried emotion, identity and history. Today, that philosophy lives on within our watches. We are not just measuring time, we are allowing it to be felt.” This idea, that time is something to be experienced rather than simply recorded, sits at the very core of the brand’s evolution into horology.

At the centre of the Monaco launch is an act of rare distinction. The creation of a unique, non-commercial timepiece for His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, designed in direct coordination with the Palais Princier. The presentation on May 6th during the VIP opening marks a defining moment for the brand, placing its debut directly within the ceremonial heart of Monaco’s most prestigious automotive and luxury showcase.

This is not a numbered edition, nor a variation of an existing model. It is a singular object, conceived specifically for a reigning sovereign, carrying both symbolic and historical weight.

The piece will continue to be celebrated during the private evening event on May 7th, reinforcing its significance within a more intimate setting. In the world of watchmaking, where heritage brands often rely on decades of established presence, such a debut is almost unheard of. It signals not only confidence, but a deep respect for tradition, protocol and meaning.

The timepiece belongs to the Heero Collection, where Van Bergen’s acoustic heritage is transformed into mechanical expression. Its defining feature, the half-hour sonnerie au passage, brings the spirit of historic carillon bells into the intimate space of the wrist, chiming gently as time unfolds. “For us, this complication is deeply personal,” says Daniel van Ree, CTO and Master Watchmaker. “It is inspired directly by the tonal structure of our historic carillons. Every chime is carefully considered. It is not simply a function, it is a memory carried forward.”

In this way, the watch becomes more than an instrument. It becomes a continuation of sound, translated into time.

Parallel to this royal creation is a collaboration rooted in purpose.

The partnership with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation brings a different dimension to the launch, one that extends beyond craftsmanship into impact. Known globally for its work in water safety, drowning prevention and youth education, the Foundation represents a commitment to protecting and empowering future generations.

An exclusive watch has been created in its honour, a piece that balances accessibility with significance. It will be introduced during Monaco’s launch week and auctioned locally, with proceeds directly supporting the Foundation’s initiatives. “We wanted this moment to stand for something beyond ourselves,” says Meijer. “Heritage is important, innovation is essential, but purpose is what gives everything meaning. Supporting the Princess Charlene Foundation allows us to contribute to something truly lasting.”

The collaboration reflects the spirit of Princess Charlene herself, whose work continues to bring awareness, compassion and action to global issues. Through this initiative, time becomes something that gives back, transforming a simple object into a symbol of care and responsibility.

The Heero Collection represents a turning point, the moment where centuries of craftsmanship evolve into a new form without losing their identity. Limited to 230 pieces, one for each year of Van Bergen’s heritage, the collection embodies rarity with intention.

The Monaco Edition is even more exclusive, with just 59 pieces crafted in titanium and white gold, reinforcing its position as a true collector’s release. Every detail is deliberate. The checkerboard dial is not decorative but deeply rooted in the mathematical grids historically used in both bell casting and shipbuilding, disciplines where precision was paramount.

The movement itself operates at a high frequency of 5 Hz, reflecting a level of technical refinement that complements the brand’s artistic heritage. “Every detail has meaning,” says Baron Juchter Van Bergen Quast. “Nothing exists without purpose. That is the principle that has guided our family for generations, and it continues to guide us today.”

There is a quiet confidence in this approach. A refusal to follow trends, and instead, a commitment to authenticity.

There are few places in the world where such a story could unfold as naturally as it does in Monaco.

A Principality defined by elegance, precision and global influence, Monaco represents a unique intersection of tradition and forward thinking. Under the reign of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, it has become a beacon for sustainability, culture and innovation, while maintaining its deeply rooted sense of identity.

At the same time, the philanthropic work of Princess Charlene continues to shape Monaco’s humanitarian voice, reinforcing its role not only as a centre of luxury, but of purpose. Within this context, Van Bergen’s debut feels entirely at home. A heritage brand reborn, presented through both a public unveiling and a private royal moment, reflecting the duality that defines Monaco itself.

From cathedral towers to the wrists of royalty, the journey of Van Bergen 1795 is not one of reinvention, but of continuation. It is a story about preserving what matters, while allowing it to evolve.

As the brand prepares to unveil its creations in Monaco, there is a sense that something more than a launch is taking place. It is the reawakening of a legacy, one that has travelled through centuries and now finds new expression in the most refined of forms. “Time is not something we simply measure,” reflects van Ree. “It is something we honour.”

And in Monaco, that legacy does not just continue, it resonates.