Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/08/12/gronefeld-1941-gronograaf-my-once-predicted-winner-for-the-2022-best-chronograph-at-the-2022-grand-prix-dhorlogerie-de-geneve-i-kind-of-called-it-right-reprise/
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Apart from the Grönograaf, the only chronograph movement that I’m aware of with a soft-reset mechanism to date is the Agenhor AgenGraphe, which powers the Ming 20.01 chronograph, the Singer Track 1 chronograph, and the Fabergé Visionnaire Chronograph.
The AgenGraphe uses spiral springs and specially shaped cams to slow the speed of the chronograph’s resetting hands. Tim and Bart Grönefeld decided however that a centrifugal regulator would both be a very effective soft-reset solution and add an aminated visual spectacle to the dial.
Not satisfied with coming up with the world’s first centrifugal regulator chronograph soft-reset movement, the Grönefelds also minimized wear by replacing the usually hardened steel reset hammers with synthetic ruby rollers, which offer the same force but with reduced friction.
Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf
And that movement!
When gazing through the display back, it’s easy to see that the movement is a work of art in itself. Dominated by a long, thin, arrow-headed, mirror-polished bridge, the chronograph mechanism is laid out as a three-dimensional sculpture, a work of art.
Grönefeld in-house Caliber G-04 chronograph movement visible through the back of the 1941 Grönograaf
It’s the best-looking chronograph movement I’ve seen since the A. Lange & Söhne Datograph and Datograph Perpetual.
Diving deep into the Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf’s movement
If money is no object, and around $160,00 that’s likely to be an object for most, then you still couldn’t buy a new Grönograaf as the Grönefelds have already stopped taking new orders until further notice due to demand and long waiting lists. I think that anyone fast-moving and fortunate enough to be waiting years for their ordered Grönograaf will be more than happy to wait.
For more information, please visit www.gronefeld.com/collection/1941-gr–nograaf.
Quick Facts Grönefeld 1941 Grönograaf
Case: 40 x 11.3 mm, stainless steel or tantalum
Movement: manually wound Caliber G-04, lateral clutch column wheel chronograph, soft reset mechanism with centrifugal governor and ruby-jeweled reset hammers; 53-hour power reserve, 3 Hz/21,600 vph frequency, variable inertia free-sprung balance, 408 components including 45 jewels, some set in gold chatons
Functions: hours, minutes, seconds; chronograph with instant jumping minute counter
Strap/bracelet: buffalo leather, 20 mm tapering to 18 mm, steel or tantalum pin buckle to match case
Limitation: 188 pieces in stainless steel, 25 pieces in tantalum
Price: €155,000 (steel); €165,000 (tantalum)
Remark: tantalum edition sold out, no longer taking orders for stainless steel limited edition of 188 pieces
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Credits: Article and images by Ian Skellern @ Quill & Pad. See the original article here - https://quillandpad.com/2023/08/12/gronefeld-1941-gronograaf-my-once-predicted-winner-for-the-2022-best-chronograph-at-the-2022-grand-prix-dhorlogerie-de-geneve-i-kind-of-called-it-right-reprise/
