Grönefeld Brothers Reveal Their First Chronograph — The 1941 Grönograaf
The $157,700 USD debut features a world-first soft reset system.
Dutch watchmaking brothers Tim and Bart Grönefeld have crafted their very first chronograph, the aptly named 1941 Grönograaf.
The 1941 Grönograaf uses column wheel actuation and tradition lateral coupling of the chronograph with the timekeeping mechanism in its calibre G-04, which is loaded with a number of clever new features.
The brothers developed a ‘soft reset’ system, using a centrifugal governor – normally found controlling the tempo of minute repeaters – to slow the reset and protect the movement from the forces normally found within a chronograph movement.
Sitting at the four o’clock position on the dial the governor, and its two solid gold weights, spins up when activated providing an already animated watch with some added theatre on the dial. Rather than resetting in a conventional counter-clockwise direction, the chronograph hands take the shortest possible path back to zero, thanks to some heart-shape cams behind the scenes.
Hours and minutes are indicated on a off-centre dial at the one o’clock position with a small seconds at the nine o’clock. An instant jump 30-minute chronograph counter sits at the six o’clock and a power reserve indicator sits at 11 o’clock.
The calibre G-04 offers the highest levels of finishing and carries the Grönefeld signature styling of recessed, spotted sections and polished stainless steel bridges.
The 40mm 1941 Grönograaf is out now, available as part of a 188-piece stainless steel limited edition – a 25-piece tantalum edition having already sold out – from Grönefeld, priced €155,000 (approximately $157,700 USD).
Elsewhere in watches, HYPEBEAST looks at the most important watches from the first half of 2022.
