For those who are unfamiliar, Grönefeld is an independent watch brand that epitomises the essence of a true watch connoisseur's brand, helmed by two horological brothers, Tim and Bart, who hail from a lineage of watchmakers spanning three generations. Raised in the Dutch town of Oldenzaal, their upbringing was deeply steeped in the craft of watchmaking, with their father and grandfather, Sjef and Johan Grönefeld, both seasoned watchmakers operating a workshop in St. Plechelmus. It was there that they maintained the town’s church clock, which notably featured a remontoire mechanism. This very mechanism serves as the foundational inspiration for the watch we are excited to be able to offer today—the 1941 Remontoire. As for its name, '1941 Remontoire' pays homage to their father, Sjef, born in 1941.
Before we delve further, for those unfamiliar with the remontoire mechanism (or remontoir d'egalité), it is perhaps one of the most elegant techniques in watchmaking, guaranteeing a consistent and ample supply of force to the escapement in a watch or clock movement. Originating from the French word 'remonter', meaning 'to wind', a remontoire typically presents itself in the form of a secondary wheel that intermittently re-winds itself using energy derived from the mainspring nestled within the movement.
Starting with the 1941 Remontoire’s beautifully sculpted 39.5mm stainless steel case, it is alone an exceptional work of art. While it may appear like any other conventional watch case from a distance, upon closer inspection, its exceptional craftsmanship is revealed. There is a subtle concave recess on the bezel between 1:30 and 4:30, as well as between 7:30 and 10:30. This design feature allows the case profile to seamlessly harmonize with the convex surfaces of the lugs, which lends the case a strong and futurist appearance.
What makes this example particularly intriguing is that it was commissioned as a pièce unique, with a beautiful dial produced by Kari Voutilainen’s dial maker, Coblémine. It features a radiant triple-sector silver dial decorated with a tasteful combination of three distinct guilloché styles: clous de Paris (hobnail) on the main outer sector, a soleil (sunburst) motif in the middle, and a panier croisé (basketweave) on the sub-dial. The interplay of these patterns reflects light beautifully, creating a stunning visual effect when viewed under direct lighting. The hours and minutes are elegantly indicated at the centre by a pair of extended Lancette hands, accompanied by a small seconds sub-dial with a thermally-blued hand at 6:00. Positioned at 9:00 is the 'speed governor’, serving to regulate the pace at which the gears rotate when the remontoire hairspring is rewound, precisely every eight seconds. As a bespoke execution, this example has its governor heat blued, and it also omits the “Eight Seconds Remontoire” text typically found above the small seconds sub-dial.
When you flip over the 1941 Remontoire, you'll quickly notice that Grönefeld didn't solely concentrate on the front. Nestled within its stainless steel case is the in-house, manual-winding Grönefeld Cal. G-05, powering this mechanical masterpiece. What struck me most about the movement is its immersive visual presentation beneath the sapphire caseback—it is both visually stunning and technically impressive. The Cal. G-05 carries a 35-hour power reserve when fully wound and consists of 258 individual components meticulously working together whilst showcasing an array of top-notch finishing techniques. The stainless steel bridges, reminiscent of the facades of Dutch houses (also called ‘bell gables’), offer a clever and subtle nod to the brothers' Dutch roots.
When the 1941 Remontoire was first introduced to the world in 2016, it earned instant acclaim within the independent watchmaking realm. It even won them the prestigious GPHG award for the best watch in the ‘Men's Watch’ category. Having the privilege of experiencing it firsthand, I can confidently affirm that its reputation is well-founded, and its accolades are unquestionably deserved.
Limited to just 188 pieces across all metal variations, the Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire is an extraordinary timepiece, defined by a movement crafted for purists and the most discerning collectors. This particular example, however, is made even more compelling by its status as a pièce unique within that run, setting it apart from an already scarce production.
