1941 Decennium Tourbillon

• Limited Edition: 10 pieces
• Case: platinum
• Size: 39.5mm
• Movement: original automatic-winding movement finished and assembled in-house
• Function: tourbillon
• Power Reserve: approximately 56 hours
• Water Resistance: 30m
• Dial: silver
• Caseback: sapphire crystal
• Hands: blued-steel
• Strap/Bracelet: hand-stitched alligator leather
• Factory Warranty: two years

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 received 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-beveled, evincing a brilliant gleam. The centers 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 five-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 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.