Over the years writing about watches, you are bound to develop great friendships and admiration for the many in the industry who have dedicated their lives to the watchmaking art. Two of the folks I hold in the highest esteem, and am generally happy to call friends, are the Horological Brothers from the watch brand Grönefeld.
This characterization stands on not only having a profound admiration for the watches that they produce but also in the realization that these Dutch brothers have a philosophy and passion for watchmaking that aligns well with my own, and that I aspire to achieve. This is a feeling that has been reinforced over the years meeting them at Baselworld, SIHH, and in 2019, at their home in Oldenzaal.
Since I was traveling to the Netherlands in September, I used the opportunity to take the train and criss-cross the country to spend a few hours with Bart and Tim. I even got a chance to meet their dad as well as Tim’s son. It’s truly a family affair in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands. This report gives a thorough recount of this short, but memorable visit, early fall of 2019.
Background
The Grönefeld brothers and the Grönefeld watch manufacture is located in a small town in eastern Holland, near the German border, called Oldenzaal. The brothers have deep roots in this manufacturing town. This is where the father of Tim and Bart Grönefeld has been the clock keeper for the town’s church taking over for his own dad, and also where the brothers were born and grew up. That’s over a century of watchmaking history from one family and one town.
And Mr. Johannes “Sjef” Grönefeld, nowadays nearly 80 years old and retired, still takes time to maintain the town’s church’s clock — the Basilica of St Plechelm. The clock still runs and includes a mechanical movement that Sjef Grönefeld maintains. This movement was the inspiration for the Horological Brothers’ constant force escapement wrist watch movement that has won so many awards and was appropriately named for the birth year of their dad: the Grönefeld 1941.
With such deep roots, it was no surprised that the brothers, after spending time working at various high-end brands in Switzerland and in London, decided to open their manufacture in that small town and moved back home permanently about 10 years ago. Today they continue to be a treasure to the town as the manufacture is located right downtown.
Manufacture
Located in a three story house adjacent to the town square and church. The entire operation has been in the same vicinity since starting 10 years ago in 2009. The ground floor is currently being renovated as a welcome area to showcase the watches, hold events, and entertain VIP customers.
The decor is sparse, but the colors and mood work well for the brand. There is a nice large front window to allow folks walking the town to window shop and view the watches from the vitrine. After being picked up by Tim at the local train station, it was in the ground floor room that I met met Bart and their dad Sjef as well as Tim’s son. I had not even seen the manufacturing room, yet I was enamored and honored by the view of three generations of Grönefeld right there welcoming me.
Casing and Finishing
After meeting the Grönefeld family and having a coffee, the brothers took me to the top floor where the action happens. All Grönefeld watches are created, finished, and serviced in that same location. At any time there could be three to five watchmakers seated at their desks and working on different aspects of the brothers’ small but memorable collection of watches.
This time I could see three watchmakers working on casing and finishing of the the 10 year anniversary watch: the 1941 Decennium Tourbillon. I got a chance to see up close these super limited 10 movements. It will be the second tourbillon watch offered from the brand as a limited watch. Grönefeld had produced a parallax tourbillon watch early in the past but it used a different case and dial design. Also this is the first tourbillon from Grönefeld with an automatic movement.
Movements and Design
Moving down one floor I could see where the brothers work. It’s a room filled with the different reminders of the brand’s young history but also storied accomplishments. You can see the GPHG awards and various recognitions and the many kudos that they had received over the past decade.
Interestingly the brothers still design their new watches and movements themselves. The first sketch is done the old fashion way, with pen and paper. After initial sketches and agreements on high-level design and directions, the job then moves to the modern CAD systems that they run on their personal computer.
Family Business
While the Grönefeld watch company was not started generations ago, they did however keep it in the family as the brothers left their respective “bigger” brands job in Switzerland to start their own company in 2009.
After creating their first watch, they got a loan, in the form of a sale of a watch from their father, in order to start the company we know today as Grönefeld. Since then the company has been family owned and operated. With 10 years in the books and a bright future looking forward to the next 10.
Why Consider a Grönefeld Watch?
Like other independent watches, you consider a Grönefeld when you have reached a higher level of maturity in watch collecting. The typical high entry cost associated with independent watches make them out of reach for most collectors, and Grönefeld watches are no exceptions.
However, as you mature in collecting watches (as in other types of collecting) you no longer search for the common watch that every other collector or watch enthusiast is looking for. Instead, you typically will start wanting watches that resonate with the passion you acquired for collecting or an ultra specific watch matching some esoteric criteria.
For many, the reason to choose an independent will be the craftsmanship, the details, the provenance, the technology, and the passion that you see in the creators of the watch. Grönefeld watches exhibit all of the above in spades. And the cherry on top will also be the personal connection you make (like I did) with the creators.
There are three specific traits I want to highlight that for me are supreme in Grönefeld watches: bespoke, finishing, and movements. Each of these make Grönefeld watches special for me. Let’s explore each in more details.
1. Bespoke
Many of the watches offered by Grönefeld can be customized to your liking. Not only can you select the color of the strap you want but also the dial. There are a variety of options for dial colors and textures. Some of these dials like the recent checkered pattern and the red enamel guilloché come from a collaboration with renowned watchmaker and dial creator Kari Voutilainen.
The bottom line is that the brothers will work with you to customize (within reason) some of their production watches (e.g., the award winning 1941 Principia) to your liking. This is a lot more can be said for watches of mainstream brands in that price range. These instead will typically offer a small selection of models and variations that collectors must chose from.
2. Finishing
Finishing on Grönefeld watches are on par with the best in the world. Just seeing any of their movements you will recognize it’s from the Oldenzaal brand. The unique movement is finished with bridges replicating the façades of Dutch houses, named “bell gables”. Each is also finished by hand with beveling with a center that is micro-blasted. With the red ruby chatons that keeps the parts together, you have a movement that stands out. Every watch at Grönefeld goes through this elaborate hand finishing resulting in a unique look that can easily be recognized and appreciated.
3. Unique Movements
Grönefeld gained their reputation and many awards for their remontroire watch. The constant force movement in the 1941 watch is a unique interpretation of this fascinating complication that also results in an extremely accurate watch. They have kept this level of technology in their other movements, for instance, the Parallax Tourbillon, the recent Decennium Tourbillon, as well as their new entry-level 1941 Principia Automatic.
Conclusion
Visiting the Grönefeld brothers in Oldenzaal was a joy for me, even though it lasted about three hours in total. Getting a chance to meet three generations of Grönefeld at their home was also a privilege. I came out there with a greater appreciation for independent watchmaking and a reassured feeling that I always had for Grönefeld and the Dutch brothers.
Learning that Grönefeld senior was the one maintaining the church clock, which itself had a remontroire clock and that their watch is named after their dad, is clearly a great personal story to share widely. It’s too bad all the 1941 remontoire watches are now sold out — they had made a limited number of the movements (188) and thus watches. I guess look for these in the secondary market or at a watch auction near you.
However, the brothers are not standing still. They are not trying to grow crazily but they are continuing their mission to expand the brand and produce some of the most coveted independent watches on the market. For me it’s one of highest quality boutique watches outside of Switzerland and some could argue anywhere else in the world.
The Netherlands is an interesting country. From having some of the tallest people in the world (on average), while having one of the lowest lands in the world, the Dutch people have a joie de vivre that is difficult to find anywhere else. I believe it’s because they appreciate life, family, nature, and the world. And all of these characteristics show thru Grönefeld.
I believe that the brothers’ ingenuity stems from the same source that you can see in the Dutch engineering work that keep their cities afloat but also coupled with the history of having produced giants of creative arts like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh, to name a few. The brothers are helping keep this Dutch spirit alive for this little passion we share in common: the watchmaking art. grönefeld.com
Over the years writing about watches, you are bound to develop great friendships and admiration for the many in the industry who have dedicated their lives to the watchmaking art. Two of the folks I hold in highest esteem and am generally happy to call friends are the Horological Brothers from the watch brand Grönefeld.
Since I was traveling to the Netherlands in September, I used the opportunity to take the train and criss-cross the country to spend a few hours with Tim and Bart. I even got a chance to meet their dad as well as Tim’s son. It’s truly a family affair in Oldenzaal, the Netherlands. This report will give a thorough recount of this short but memorable visit early fall of 2019.