Celebrating excellency: Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon

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Last year, the independent brand Grönefeld celebrated their 10 year anniversary with a pinnacle piece: Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon. The celebration timepiece presents and represents all the signature elements of the Duch Horological Brothers.

Hands-on Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon

Last year, for their tenth anniversary, the Horological Brothers spoiled us with a new tourbillon watch. Decennium has its etymology in the Latin decem (“ten”) + annum (“year”). A good name for the signification of this piece.

Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon brings a tourbillon on the front of the 1941 watches. The automatic movement was changed quite massively to adopt the new complication. The result is a new combination of finishes – so well executed in the Grönefelds’ atelier.

Elegance is an attitude

The case of the Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon is familiar: 39.5mm diameter and 10.5mm height. Manufactured in Platinum, the case is sculpted using specially shaped cutters. New tools were necessary to create the characteristic hollowed, concave recesses and convex surfaces.

The case has practical modularity. The lugs are detachable due to two hidden titanium screws. That permits an easier case and lugs polishing, plus the possibility to change one or more lugs in case of need (damaged beyond repair). These details make the 1941 case a more proper daily wearer.

The Decennium is fitted with the Grönefeld signature crown: a beautiful shape and the two brothers logo engraved.

The complex-shaped case presents a mirror finish that highlights the refined composition of convex and concave finishes.

The beauty and the tourbillon

Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon has an easily recognisable dial. The watch is fitted with the same solid silver dial as the Principia. Of course, an aperture is present to reveal the anniversary tourbillon.

The tourbillon is visible at 6 o’clock. The cage is manufactured in stainless steel. The material is harder to be processed but offers, at the same time, higher stability in time (resistance to corrosion). The tourbillon cage presents no upper bridge – the view of the beating heart is enhanced.

The time display is realised with polished, hand-applied baton hour markers and the brand’s specific extended Lancette hour and minute hands. These are flame-blued and suffered additional mirror-polish in the centre.

Purists, prepare your loupes

Calibre G-07 is, by all mean, a gorgeous example of the Grönefeld Ateliers work. All the known elements, that raised the Horological Brothers fame to a firm position, are there.

The movement bears all the signature elements: the stainless steel bridges with micro-blasted decoration, relief engraving, the jewels in polished gold chatons, the exceptional mirror polish and hand bevelling.

The details are remarkable. Looking at the movement construction, it is easily noticeable that the architecture is changed. A new circular bridge makes the link between the wheels of the gear train. In this way it was possible to fit the tourbillon without an increase in height.

The bridge adds a huge amount of work. Just look at all the interior angles. The entire construction, including the five double spokes wheels, reveal the beautiful perlage of the main plate.

The typical Grönefeld bridges bear the engraving with the name of the brand, timepiece’s number and the anniversary message.

The spectacularity of the movement is partially covered by the 22-carat solid red gold monobloc rotor. The component is fixed on the movement with a stainless steel fixture and ceramic ball bearing (no need for lubrication). As the rest of the movement, the rotor is all hand decorated with the rigours met on the steel bridges.

Celebrating Excellency

Grönefeld 1941 Decennium Tourbillon is a logical evolution in the 1941 collection. Bearing all the known elements of the collection, the Decennium Tourbillon brings to the brand’s most elegant design the most desired complication – a tourbillon.

As any other Grönefeld 1941, the Decennium Tourbillon looks great on the wrist. Elegant and exceptional finished, the anniversary piece dares to be an excellent daily companion and a modern dress piece. The watch is limited two only ten pieces. But this only makes it more special.