Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon is the 10 years anniversary piece from the Dutch Horological Brothers. The watch is magnificent and gathers all the good elements that the Grönefeld accustomed us over the years: clear design signature, exceptional finishes. Read below the official press release. My review with my own photos will follow soon.
When the Horological Brothers, Bart and Tim Grönefeld, decided to embark on a career in watchmaking, they initially chose to study in their native country, before completing their training in Switzerland. Thereafter, they returned to the Netherlands to uphold the family tradition of watchmaking.
In 1998, the Horological Brothers established their own independent atelier in Oldenzaal. Some years later they began creating fine timepieces for the cognoscenti. The first watch to bear their family name, Grönefeld, was launched in 2008. It was the GTM-06, a technical tour de force, combining a tourbillon with a minute repeater. Since then, Bart and Tim have conceived further innovative timepieces, each the recipient of a prestigious award.
To celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary, Grönefeld has unveiled a new watch, the ‘1941 Decennium Tourbillon’. This timepiece is endowed with an array of features, designed to indulge the desires of watch connoisseurs.
A Sculpted Platinum Case
The 1941 Decennium Tourbillon is housed in the company’s 1941 case. Named after the year their father was born, this case exudes grace from every angle. The Decennium Tourbillon receive an exclusive platinum 1941 case. The sculpted case is executed using a specially shaped cutter to create the characteristic hollowed, concave recesses and convex surfaces. In between each additional cutting phase, the case is polished prior to the next stage of milling, ensuring the precisely defined contours of the case are retained. This process proves incredibly time-consuming, but the outcome justifies the effort.
Measuring 39.5mm in diameter, with a restrained height of 10.5mm, the platinum 1941 case is the epitome of elegance, courtesy of its discreet mien. With a weight of 118 grams the Decennium Tourbillon is not too heavy to be a daily companion.
A Movement for Purists
An automatic movement ensures the mainspring is optimally wound, resulting in less variation in the rate of the movement. In normal use, the wearer does not need to operate the crown, mitigating the risk of harm to the crown stem. Lastly, an automatic movement confers convenience, making it ideal for daily use.
The automatic movement is fitted with a 22-carat solid red gold monobloc rotor. The rotor is completely hand finished and turns on a ceramic ball bearing, preventing wear and eliminating the need for lubrication.
Despite embracing a new means of powering its latest watch, purists can be rest assured that Grönefeld’s exalted standards of finish prevail. The stainless-steel bridges replicate the facades of the Dutch houses, termed ‘bell gables’. They are hand-bevelled, evincing a brilliant gleam. The centres deliver a sublime contrast with their micro-blasted surfaces and are adorned with relief engraving.
The cage of the flying tourbillon, a tourbillon without an upper bridge, is made of stainless steel. The Horological Brothers use stainless steel for the cage and the aforementioned bridges because it is not liable to corrosion and, as such, proffers lasting benefits to the owner. Working with stainless steel requires great patience, but Bart and Tim believe the end result substantiates the time expended.
The 5-arm, double spoke gear train wheels exhibit a contemporary character with their circular grained surfaces paying due reverence to fine watchmaking tradition. The movement includes a balance wheel with white gold timing screws and is equipped with a free-sprung over-coil hairspring with a triangular stud.
Gold chatons stand testament to the no-compromise specification of this movement. In addition, the mirror polished screws feature chamfered rims and slots. Numerous surfaces gleam, courtesy of the mirror-polishing which has been patiently executed by time-served hands. The inventory of different decorations includes snailed, grained, spotted and frosted surfaces, indulging the desires of purists.
With so much beauty harnessed within this watch, a sapphire case back has been fitted to confer a spectacular view.
The time-consuming creation of each movement means that production will be limited to only 10 examples of the Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon.
This watch provides a fitting tribute to the skills of the Horological Brothers and their capacity to create timepieces for discerning collectors.
Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon Price and Technical Specifications
The price of the Decennium Tourbillon in platinum is € 145,000.00 excluding taxes.
Technical specifications movement
Movement dimensions
Diameter: 32,0 mm
Thickness: 5,5 mm
Number of parts 259 parts
Power reserve 56 hours
Number of jewels 30 jewels, partially set in solid gold chatons
Automatic system Uni-directional winding mechanism
Oscillating mass 22-karat solid gold entirely decorated by hand. Pivoted on a high precision ceramic ball bearing to avoid excessive wear and the need of lubrication
Tourbillon cage One-minute flying tourbillon cage pivoted on ceramic ball bearing.
Single arm upper cage bridge. Lower Cage and upper cage are both fabricated in stainless steel
Balance wheel Variable-inertia balance wheel with timing screws (diameter 10 mm)
Frequency 21.600 vibrations/hour
Balance spring Free sprung with Phillips terminal over coil curve with Geneva style stud
Escapement Jewelled lateral Swiss lever escapement
Main Plate Spotted and ruthenium electroplated brass main-plate
Bridges Stainless steel, bevels polished by hand, micro-blasted centre, circular grain on the top to highlight the bridges shapes and relief engravings
Displays Central hours and minutes
Case and dial specifications
Number of components 49 parts
Case material Platinum Pt950 (limited edition of 10 pieces)
Case dimensions
Diameter: 39,5 mm
Thickness: 10,5 mm
Water resistance 3 atmospheres – 30 meters – 100 feet
Crown White Gold Au750/Pd210
Dial Base material: Solid Sterling Silver 925
Hands Extended Lancette hour and minute hands. Flame-blued steel and mirror polished centres.
Strap Matte black alligator with alligator lining
Buckle Pin buckle sculpted in platinum Pt950 A vast variety of leathers and colours are available
Crystals Front and back sapphire crystals have anti-reflective coatings on both sides
Total Weight 118 Grams
