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Lot Essay
This extremely impressive limited edition tantalum watch is the first chronograph model to be produced by the highly respected independent watchmakers Grönefeld. A superb timepiece for the collector of the best Independently made wristwatches, the present watch offers exclusivity, complexity, beauty and the reassurance of handmade excellence.
The present watch is one of the first 25 ‘Premiere Edition’ watches of the ‘1941 Grönograaf’ cased in the rare metal tantalum. The remaining watches of the model were made in stainless steel in a further limited edition of 188 pieces. The Grönefeld brothers’ wristwatches launched under the ‘1941’ name appeal to the most discerning of watch collectors. Naturally, the movements are entirely hand-finished to the highest level as expected from the finest independent watchmakers, and fulfil even the most exacting requirements of purists. The stainless steel bridges are hand-bevelled, while the centres deliver a striking contrast with their micro-blasted surfaces, decorated with relief engraving. A particularly beautiful feature of this chronograph movement is the elongated straight bridge for the chronograph which is black-polished, as are the screws and gold chatons.
The Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf features a visible centrifugal governor that is usually associated with the speed control of repeating mechanisms. However, in the Grönograaf, ingeniously the governor is used to provide a ‘soft reset’ for the chronograph when returned to zero. The variable inertia balance has white gold timing screws has a free-sprung over-coil hairspring and serves to demonstrate the movement’s ultra-high specification. The sculpted '1941' case is executed with a specially shaped cutter to create its 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 is incredibly time-consuming but the outcome justifies the effort.
The present watch is one of the first 25 ‘Premiere Edition’ watches of the ‘1941 Grönograaf’ cased in the rare metal tantalum. The remaining watches of the model were made in stainless steel in a further limited edition of 188 pieces. The Grönefeld brothers’ wristwatches launched under the ‘1941’ name appeal to the most discerning of watch collectors. Naturally, the movements are entirely hand-finished to the highest level as expected from the finest independent watchmakers, and fulfil even the most exacting requirements of purists. The stainless steel bridges are hand-bevelled, while the centres deliver a striking contrast with their micro-blasted surfaces, decorated with relief engraving. A particularly beautiful feature of this chronograph movement is the elongated straight bridge for the chronograph which is black-polished, as are the screws and gold chatons.
The Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf features a visible centrifugal governor that is usually associated with the speed control of repeating mechanisms. However, in the Grönograaf, ingeniously the governor is used to provide a ‘soft reset’ for the chronograph when returned to zero. The variable inertia balance has white gold timing screws has a free-sprung over-coil hairspring and serves to demonstrate the movement’s ultra-high specification. The sculpted '1941' case is executed with a specially shaped cutter to create its 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 is incredibly time-consuming but the outcome justifies the effort.