Celebrating its 13th anniversary on 11 November 2021, the Moritz Grossmann Manufacture has unveiled an exquisite version of the BACKPAGE. The prestigious watch brand is marking the occasion with this magnificent model, which brings the exceptional design of the “mirror-inverted” calibre 107.0 to life in an ensemble of deep blue, polished steel and gold elements. The timepiece is available in a platinum case and comes in a limited edition of 13 pieces worldwide
The BACKPAGE – a spectacular showcase of Grossmann’s watchmaking prowess – was presented by Moritz Grossmann in March 2018. A timepiece that raised a question not only shared by enthusiasts and admirers of mechanical watchmaking – which is more beautiful: the view of the front or the back. The platinum statement piece, limited to 18 pieces, ushered in a completely new design in the world of haute horlogerie by making the signature mechanical highlights of the manufacture calibre – such as the Grossmann balance, the balance cock hand-engraved with floral motifs, and the 3-band snailing on the ratchet wheel – visible on the dial. Legendary in connoisseur circles, these movement components enthral aficionados with an exceptionally large dial cutout. The small seconds display also enjoys a prominent position thanks to the extravagant bearing for the second hand featuring a gold chaton.
The BACKPAGE Transparent launched last year, in which the precision mechanical ensemble was accented by a sapphire crystal printed with indices and numerals, also delighted devotees of Glashütte fine watchmaking.
This year, Moritz Grossmann proudly presents a new variation of the BACKPAGE principle that dispenses entirely with numerals and indices and adds an expressive colour, the BACKPAGE Blue. Thanks to a wafer-thin layer of metal oxide, which is applied with nanometric precision of 1 millionth of a millimetre after finishing the components, all frame parts are resplendent in a deep blue hue. The colour is durable and resistant to environmental influences, possessing a unique brilliance that creates a charming contrast to the gold-plated gear wheels, the gold chatons, the polished steel hands crafted in the manufactory, the carefully bevelled and polished screw heads and the ratchet wheel embellished with a 3-band snailing finish.
An innovative coating process is employed on the surfaces of all the frame parts, resulting in a fascinating interplay of light and colour that enhances the beauty of the mechanism, displayed and finished with consummate virtuosity, directly on the wrist.
The manufactory calibre 107.0: a new take on traditional Glashütte watchmaking artistry
The calibre 107.0 was designed by Moritz Grossmann to attain this expressive visual impression on the front of the dial. While at first glance it may seem to be a mirror image of the calibre 100.1, it is actually based on a new technical approach. An additional wheel between the crown wheel and the ratchet wheel reverses the entire drive train with respect to the rotation of the mainspring barrel. The wheel train runs in the right direction thanks to the mirrored escapement and the mirrored oscillation system – also including the balance spring coiling direction.
The larger dimensions of the 2/3 plate necessitated design changes for the balance cock and the escape-wheel cock. The cantilevered geometry of the escape-wheel cock creates a balanced accent in the overall arrangement of the movement. The exceptionally luxurious high-artistic finish of the two components is fascinating with its masterly handcrafted engravings, chamfers and bevels.
The minute-wheel bridge: an innovative mechanism
To achieve the desired presence of the winding wheels on the dial side, the dial train was reconfigured. The artistically finished train wheels were arranged beneath a highly polished and bevelled minute-wheel bridge. Since in this case, the hand-setting mechanism is located on the opposite side of the movement, the setting wheel extends all the way through the calibre. The new arrangement created space for the optimised barrel bearing and the ratchet wheel, which was also shifted to the front side.
The back of the movement: clear the stage for the winder with pusher and stop seconds
Even though the front mesmerises with a deft display of carefully selected components, the view of the back is equally captivating. One of the highlights here is the functional sequence of the winding mechanism, which is openly integrated into the wheel bridge. Almost all of its components are mirrored in order to guarantee their function even when mounted in the opposite position while ensuring the position of the lever remains unchanged.
The stop-seconds and stop-balance functions have also been redesigned. In the hand-setting mechanism, the brake position is sampled at the clutch lever and, via a push rod, transferred to the brake spring, which then stops the balance. After the pusher is activated and the movement starts, the brake spring returns the push rod to its rest position.
Platinum case
A platinum case provides a fitting accompaniment for the anniversary model, which is worn with a dark blue strap made of hand-stitched alligator leather.
The BACKPAGE Blue in the online boutique
The new model and the entire collection are now available in the new Moritz Grossmann Online Boutique: https://boutique.grossmann-uhren.com/product/benu-backpage/
Moritz Grossmann BACKPAGE Blue in Platin Technical Specifications
Reference: MG-003108 – 59.500 € (incl. 19% VAT – Delivery and shipping costs included)
Limited edition: 13 watches worldwide
Special features
Balance staff with integrated safety roller, location of the impulse pin in the balance (Glashütte style); index adjuster with Grossmann micrometer screw; plate movement with 3/4 plate on dial side, frame pillars and separately removable clutch winding mechanism; visible hand setting train on the back side of the movement; frame parts in German silver with metal-oxide coating; raised gold chatons with pan-head screws; ratchet wheel with stopwork on the modified spring barrel bearing with a gold chaton in the ratchet wheel; dial train wheels spoked and bevelled, beneath polished bridge
Functions
- Hours, minutes and subsidiary seconds with stop second,
- Grossmann manual winder with pusher
Movement
- Manufactory calibre 107.0, manual winding, regulated in five positions
- No. of parts: 230
- Jewels: 24 jewels, 11 gold chatons, of which 7 in screwed chatons
- Escapement: Lever escapement
- Oscillator: Shock-absorbed Grossmann balance with 4 inertia screws and 2 poising screws, Nivarox 1 balance spring with No. 80 Breguet terminal curve, Gustav Gerstenberger geometry
- Balance Diameter: 14.2 mm, frequency: 18,000 semi-oscillations/hour
- Power reserve 42 hours when fully wound
- Movement dimensions Diameter: 36.4 mm, height: 5.0 mm
Case
- Diameter: 41.0 mm, height: 11.35 mm
- Case: Three-part, platinum
- Crystal/display back: Sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating on one side
- Operating elements: Crown in platinum to wind the watch and set the time, pusher in platinum to start the movement
Hands
- Manually crafted from steel polished
Strap
- Hand-stitched alligator leather with prong buckle in platinum
Moritz Grossmann
Moritz Grossmann, born 1826 in Dresden, was regarded as a visionary among the great German horologists. In 1854, his friend Ferdinand Adolph Lange persuaded the young, highly talented watchmaker to establish his own mechanical workshop in Glashütte. In addition to establishing a prestigious watchmaking business, Grossmann became engaged both politically and socially, founding the German School of Watchmaking in 1878. Moritz Grossmann passed away unexpectedly in 1885, after which his manufacture was liquidated.
The spirit of Moritz Grossmann’s horological traditions sprang back to life in 2008 when trained watchmaker Christine Hutter discovered the venerable Glashütte brand and had it re-registered. She developed concepts and was inspired by the vision of reviving Grossmann’s legacy more than 120 years later with a particularly exquisite wristwatch. And she convinced private watch enthusiasts to support her in making this dream come true. On 11 November 2008, she founded Grossmann Uhren GmbH in Glashütte. Today, Grossmann’s watchmakers preserve traditions without copying historical pieces. With innovation, superb craftsmanship, a combination of traditional and contemporary manufacturing methods as well as precious materials, they are celebrating “Schönstes deutsches Handwerk” in their watches.