Tim & Bart Grönefeld’s Facebook teasers have been confirmed; the brand had indeed something special cooking for Baselworld 2014. The two extra ordinary watch makers will be presenting their second tourbillon model, this week at Basel World 2014!

Last week a couple of friends of the house and yours truly, had a preview of the new model. While the circumstances for photography were not ideal, we got a chance to take some first pics of Grönefelds new baby, at a cozy local establishment.

The teasers had given away some of the news already, but we were still pleasantly surprised when we saw two amazing looking tourbillon watches; the Parallax Tourbillon RG in red gold and the version in all steel, the Parallax Tourbillon 1912. Two stunning looking watches that are technically identical.

– The Parallax Tourbillon, here in the hands of Tim Grönefeld –

The Grönefeld Parallax Tourbillon is housed in the 43mm case, the same one that we know from the One Hertz model and features a flying tourbillon, sweep seconds, top seconds, a power reserve-and winding-setting mechanism indicator. Needless to say, the caliber is built inhouse. Since a tourbillon movement in general is spectacular to look at, Tim & Bart Grönefeld have made it even more visible by lifting it out of the movement and above the dial.

 

Surrounded by a border containing the engraved brand, the word “Parallax” and placed just off centre, it gives the dial a less traditional look. The finishing of all Grönefeld timepieces is second to none and in this case, each tourbillon component takes three days to finish and is entirely done by hand. The bridges are always made out of stainless steel at Grönefeld. The brothers strongly believe that the hardness and durability of stainless steel is superior to standard steel, despite the fact that the polishing, by a master watch maker, takes up to four times longer, than brass. But…. the gleaming finish lasts much longer too.

The name Parallax was given because of the innovative feature to set the time. Normally the crown of a watch is pulled, in order to turn the hands for the hours and minutes. In this case the crown is ‘Push Only’ and is pressed (to prevent damaging the fragile crown stem) to set the time. The W and S indicator on the dial, located on the right side of the tourbillon, displays the function for winding or setting the time. When the time setting function is selected, both tourbillon cage bridge and the central seconds hand, automatically return to their respective 12 o’clock positions and stop while the time is set. This may sound odd, but it does make the Parallax Tourbillon potentially more accurate than most other tourbillons. Once the time is set and the function is set to winding, by simply pressing the crown, the seconds hand and tourbillon cage start running simultaneously and in parallel.

The solid-silver dial of the Parallax Tourbillon is composed of seven individual segments and covered by a domed sapphire crystal. Tim & Bart have given a lot of attention to details that make this dial look very attractive, like the new shape of the hands and the thin writing around the tourbillon. I also like the fact that the tourbillon is placed off centre on the dial. The polished beveled edges of the segments mirror those of the stainless steel movement bridges, which are visible through the display back. The bevels are polished with diamond paste, to a brilliant gloss and create lustrous reflections of light. The blued steel hands for the hours, minutes and seconds are very well readable on the light dial.

– The pink gold Parallax Tourbillon, has a great fit on my 18cm wrist –

Not only is the Grönefeld Parallax a stunning tourbillon, with some smart features, it looks like the brothers have set a new standard in accuracy.

The Grönefeld Parallax RX will be produced in 28 pieces and the steel version, the Parallax Tourbillon 1912, in just 12 pieces. Pricing is quite interesting, since there is very little difference, between the pink gold- and the steel version.

The Grönefeld Parallax RX 137.450.- (ex VAT)
Parallax Tourbillon 1912 Euro 134.250.- (ex VAT)

The Parallax Tourbillon will be delivered on a hand-sewn mat alligator strap with red gold or steel ardillon buckle.

Specifications of the Grönefeld Parralax Tourbillon:
• Movement: Calibre G-03, 278 individual parts, 27 jewels set in gold chatons, direct gear train to avoid a friction spring for the centre seconds hand by means of an additional wheel and pinion, one-minute flying tourbillon, free sprung variable-inertia balance wheel (diameter 10 mm) with Phillips terminal overcoil curve and Geneva-style stud, 21,600 vph (3Hz), 72 hours power reserve
• Case: red gold (Au750 5N) or stainless steel, 43 mm in diameter and 12.5 mm in height, domed sapphire crystal on the front, flat sapphire crystal on the back, both crystal have hard anti-reflective coating on both sides, polished bezel and centre band with hand-finished straight graining, water resistant to 30 meters (3ATM)
• Finish: rhodium plated nickel silver main plate is spotted and snailed, bridges are in stainless steel X46 Cr13, bevels polished by hand, micro-blasted centre and the underneath spotted, circular grain on the top, relief engraved in the micro blasted surface
• Strap: hand-sewn mat alligator leather strap, steel or gold buckle with engraved Grönefeld logo

–GEO is contributor of Revo-Online & Revolution Magazine and passionate about Cartier, independents and fine watchmaking.

 

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