When conceptualising the 1941 Remontoire, the Grönefeld brothers, Bart and Tim, had watchmaking and familial history on their minds. The inspiration for the technical aspect of the watch, the Remontoire, came from their childhood memories of their grandfather and father maintaining a clock dating back to the 13th century, that was housed in a nearby church. It featured a constant force device, that stored energy from the mainspring and released exactly the same quantum of it to the balance at regular intervals. This constancy of power input made for even balance amplitude and therefore linear timekeeping, no matter the reserve the mainspring had left. As a tribute, the brothers named the watch that incorporated such a constant force device after their father’s birth year, 1941.

It is understood that since its conception in 2016, just 188 examples of the calibre G-05, the machine powering the 1941 Remontoire, have been created. It is worth noting that the year it was launched, the watch won the best Men’s Watch prize at the GPHG. The 1941 Remontoire series is now closed, with the Gronefeld brothers not taking further orders for it.

This particular example, with a 39.5mm white gold case, has a particularly striking configuration. It is paired with a sterling silver dial that wears frosted finishing and is punctuated with multi-faceted and mirror-polished hour markers. The navy of the printed minutes chapter is paired with the brilliant blue of the heat-hued lancette-style form of the hours and minutes hands. The simple pointer seconds hands, which plies a subsidiary register with a sector-style layout, is also similarly blued.

The case is designed to minimise its footprint. This is evident in the concave form of the bezel, as well as the flowing, stepped shape of the short but substantial lugs. This sculpting is evident even in profile where the concave form of the bezels serves to create an impression smaller than the dimensions would suggest. The lugs, 20mm apart, are fitted with a black, alligator-style leather strap with a signed white gold pin buckle. The crown, shaped like a jet exhaust, is fluted to aid ergonomics.

On the dial, at 9 o’clock is a window with a tri-armed wheel that spins to visually represent the functioning of the remontoire every eight seconds. Underneath the dial is the manually wound calibre G-05, made up of 258 components. It can be appreciated through the exhibition caseback. Its stainless-steel bridges, mirroring bell gable roofs of Dutch houses, wear micro-blasting in the centre, with raised, hand-bevelled edges. It is richly decorated, with jewels outfitted with gold chatons and relief engraving referencing the jewel count and eight-second remontoire. The single barrel movement produces 35 hours of reserve. It has other conveniences such as hacking seconds.

The watch comes with its outer and inner boxes, cleaning cloth and operating instructions. This understated and refined expression of the 1941 Remontoire is a rare proposition from an independent – it is historically minded while also technically advanced. All of this is packaged in a cohesive aesthetic that is modern and considered.

If sold within the United Kingdom, this Grönefeld1941 Remontoire will be subject to 20% VAT

Closer look

Condition

This Grönefeld 1941 Remontoire is in excellent overall condition. Extremely light superficial marks are found on the case and lugs, consistent with minimal wear over time. The dial, case, and movement are free from any signs of imperfections. The hallmarks on the caseback and buckle are crisp and well defined.

Warranty

The watch comes with a two-year warranty from A Collected Man, alongside a lifetime guarantee of authenticity.