Our Take

Arguably one of the most sought after independent brands today, Grönefeld is led by the brothers Bart and Tim, showcasing their unique artisanal watchmaking style.

Released in 2014, the Parallax Tourbillon is some of the Grönefeld brothers’ finest work. Both the dial and movement side of the timepiece are stunning with a few notable aspects, one being this timepiece’s crown. Here, you don’t pull the crown to set the time or wind the watch. Rather, you push the crown to toggle between winding (“W” on the dial) and time-setting (“S” on the dial). The asymmetrical dial boasts an interesting balance and as time and tourbillon balance each other at 2 and 7 o’clock while power reserve indicator with the time-setting and winding mechanisms sit across from one another at 4 and 10 o’clock.

Flipping the watch over, the finishing on the in-house G-03 caliber is exquisite. With massive rhodium finished bridges, the movement looks as if it is armored and ready to take on the world. Only a few gears, jewels, polished screws and countersinks peek through the sapphire caseback. When it comes to innovation, this movement does its work with a unusual hacking and resetting mechanism. When you push the crown to the time-setting position, the tourbillon continues to run until it hits 12 o’clock. This allows you to set the time to an outside reference and more easily track the precision of the tourbillon.

Lastly, making this timepiece a unique piece, a titanium case houses this beautiful movement and dial, making it the only unique example ever made in the lightweight metal.

Overall, the Parallax Tourbillon 1912 is an extremely rare, spectacular timepiece for collectors in the know. We know this one will be cherished by its next owner for years and years to come.

The Details

Brand: Grönefeld

Model: Parallax Tourbillon 1912

Material: Stainless steel (1912)

Dial:

• Solid Sterling Silver 925, frosted surface with diamond cut bevels
• Hour- Minutes dial, raised Seconds Dial
• Power reserve indicator
• Setting-winding indicator

Finishing: Polished bezel and centre band with hand-finished straight graining.

Case dimensions: 43 mm x 12.5 mm

Finishing: Polished bezel and centre band with hand-finished straight graining

Caliber G-03: Flying tourbillon, synchronized hacking seconds, hand-wound mechanical movement, push-to-wind/push-to-set crown, power reserve indicator, function indicator setting

Power reserve: 72 hours

Gearing: Gearing Direct gear train to avoid a friction spring for the center seconds hand by means of an additional wheel and pinion

Tourbillon: One-minute flying tourbillon cage pivoted on ceramic ball bearings. Upper Cage Bridge with single arm. Fabricated in stainless steel. Lower Cage fabricated in stainless steel

Balance wheel: Variable-inertia balance wheel with timing screws (diameter 10 mm)

Indications:

• Small hours and minutes at 1 o’clock
• Visible tourbillon cage at 7 o’clock
• Large center seconds on a raised seconds dial to minimalize parallax error
• Power Reserve indicator
• Winding - Setting indicator

Water Resistance: 3 atmosphere – 30 meters – 100 feet