Grönefeld
- Founded
- 2008
- Based in
- Oldenzaal, Netherlands
- In our catalog
- 1 watch from $70,000 to $80,000
Grönefeld is a small, independent watchmaker in the Netherlands run by two brothers, Bart and Tim Grönefeld. They make complicated watches in small numbers, and their designs show off clever mechanical ideas in a way that's easy to see and enjoy.
History
The Grönefelds have been watchmakers in Oldenzaal for generations: the brothers' grandfather and father looked after the clock in the town's church tower. Bart and Tim trained in the Netherlands and Switzerland and worked at Renaud & Papi, a high-complication workshop, before going back to Oldenzaal to set up on their own. They launched their own brand in 2008 with the One Hertz, a watch with a seconds hand that jumps once a second.
In 2014 they released the 1941 Remontoire, named after the year their father was born, with a mechanism inspired by that church tower clock. It uses a remontoire, a mechanism that rewinds a small spring every eight seconds to keep the force delivered to the balance constant. You can watch it work through a window on the dial.
Signature models
- 1941 Remontoire: The brand's best-known watch, with a constant-force mechanism and a hand-finished movement.
- One Hertz: A watch with deadbeat seconds and a clear layout.
- 1941 Principia: A simpler automatic model from the same family.
What it's known for
Grönefeld watches show their workings openly, and the brothers are respected in the independent watchmaking world. Production is small.
Price and positioning
Grönefeld watches cost from around $40,000 to $90,000. They compete with other independents like Laurent Ferrier and H. Moser & Cie, and are for collectors who want something rare and personal.
Grönefeld watches in our library
- Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire ($70,000 to $80,000)