FAQ

The Van Alen is Bien’s first watch: a Swiss made automatic, designed by hand in New York City and drawn from the Art Deco architecture of the Chrysler Building. Its First Edition is 288 individually numbered pieces, and estimated delivery is July–September 2027.

The Van Alen runs on a Swiss made Sellita SW300-1b in top grade, an automatic movement with a 56-hour minimum power reserve, 25 jewels, and a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. Its timing tolerance is -5/+12 seconds per day.

The Van Alen is water resistant to 100 meters (10ATM), sealed by a screw-down crown and a screw-down caseback, so it moves comfortably from the office to the pool on the same bracelet.

Yes. The Van Alen is rated to 100 meters (10ATM), which covers swimming and showering with the crown screwed down. Do not operate the crown underwater. It is not a dive watch.

The Van Alen measures 38.6mm across, 44mm from lug to lug, and 9mm thin, so it sits low on the wrist and slides under a shirt cuff. The bracelet fits wrists from 14cm to 21cm.

Yes. The bracelet features a hidden micro-adjust system with increments of 0mm, 1.5mm, and 3mm, and a quick-release system for easy strap changes. It fits wrists from 14cm to 21cm.

The Van Alen is offered in three dials: Terracotta, Cobalt, and Iron. Its First Edition holds 92 with the Terracotta dial, 98 with Cobalt, and 98 with Iron.

The First Edition is the first 288 Van Alens made: 92 with the Terracotta dial, 98 with Cobalt, and 98 with Iron. Every piece is individually numbered on the caseback and matched to its warranty card.

The Van Alen on its steel bracelet, in a presentation case with a leather wallet, a metal warranty card matched to your serial number, and a microsuede cloth. Pay in full and a Delugs strap of your choice is included.

Every millimeter of the Van Alen was designed by hand in New York City by founder Max Bien, and the watch is made in Switzerland.

Most watches at this price make you choose. A dress watch is thin, but usually rated to 30 or 50 meters. An automatic sports watch survives a swim, but usually runs 11mm thick or more. The Van Alen is 9mm thin, water resistant to 100 meters, and automatic, on a top-grade Swiss Sellita SW300-1b. It is also individually numbered, one of 288, and guaranteed for 4 years.

You can place a $688 deposit to hold your colorway, with the remaining $2,698 due before delivery, or pay $3,386 in full to receive a free Delugs strap and ship before every deposit. Pre-orders open Tuesday, December 22, 2026 at 9 AM EST. Choose your dial and strap in the Strap Finder.

Pre-orders open Tuesday, December 22, 2026 at 9 AM EST. Each watch is made in Switzerland, then passes our quality control in New York City and ships within a week of arriving there. Estimated delivery is July–September 2027.

Pre-orders paid in full at checkout ship first, in the order placed, then pre-orders placed with a deposit, in the order placed.

Yes. A deposit is fully refundable any time before your watch enters production. After delivery, an unworn watch in its original condition can be returned within 7 days for a full refund. If you paid in full, the retail value of your free Delugs strap is deducted from any refund, and the strap is yours to keep.

Your deposit is fully refundable any time before your watch enters production. After delivery you have 7 days to return an unworn watch for a full refund. If you paid in full, the retail value of your free Delugs strap is deducted from any refund, and the strap is yours to keep. Every Van Alen is guaranteed for 4 years against defects in materials and workmanship. Between your order and delivery, you will receive production updates by email every two weeks, and you can email Max any time in between.

Not for the First Edition. It ships only within the United States, insured and signature-required, and the price includes U.S. import duties and shipping. The details are on our Shipping page.

The Van Alen is guaranteed against defects in materials and workmanship for four years from the date of delivery. It does not cover wear and tear, misuse, neglect, or repairs made by anyone other than Bien.

Yes, in New York City, once the first prototypes arrive in October 2026. Email max@bien.nyc to arrange a time. When your own watch is ready, you can also collect it in New York and meet Max in person. If the trip does not work, your watch ships insured and signature-required.

Not yet. The first prototypes arrive in October 2026, and we will put them in the hands of independent reviewers before deliveries begin. Coverage will be linked here as it publishes.

Bien is a registered New York company, founded by Max Bien: a watch collector since childhood, with a career in consulting, project management, and sales. He learned 3D modeling and CGI at night, after work, and drew every part of the Van Alen with his own hands. No AI, and no catalog case, dial, or bracelet. Read his story.

Email Max directly at max@bien.nyc.