WBOTD 10.4.12: Gronefeld

http://www.gronefeld.nl/index.php

The name Grönefeld and the art of watchmaking have a family history spanning nearly one hundred years, originating in the small and ancient town of Oldenzaal located in The Netherlands. It is there, in a shop directly under the view of the ancient basilica church and its tower dating from 1240, that the grandfather of the present watchmakers, Johan Grönefeld, began his career as a watchmaker in 1912.

This marked the beginning of the small and highly talented dynasty of Grönefeld watchmakers, which reaches to the present day with the brothers Bart and Tim Grönefeld. Their workshop is located in the same building as that used by Johan Grönefeld, representing a continuous, unbroken watchmaking family history that is exceptionally rare to find anywhere in the world today.

Both Tim and Bart Grönefeld underwent extensive training in Switzerland, and within a relatively short span of time proved themselves adept world specialists in the production of the most coveted and exquisite horological complications of all: the tourbillon and the minute repeater wristwatch. After 8 years with Renaud & Papi, where Bart was workshop manager and responsible for training, Tim in charge of escapements and regulating and assembling tourbillons, they returned to the Netherlands in 1998 to set up their own service workshop. In 2008 Tim and Bart presented the first watch bearing their own name, the GTM-06 Tourbillon Minute Repeater.

Wowza. Excellent WBOTD. I could sit and stare at the case backs as much as the dials. Exquisite.

Really nice, love the craftmanship and design.