Grönefeld is a Netherlands based independent luxury watch manufacture that debuted in 2008 with an exceptional Tourbillon Minute Repeater wristwatch (GTM 06). This young watch manufacture has been specialised in the production of prestigious timepieces such as their award-winning One Hertz model (introduced in 2010) which houses their first in-house developed calibre.
This year, its founders Bart and Tim Grönefeld are introducing a highly sophisticated tourbillon timepiece. The Grönefeld Parallax Tourbillon, the latest offer from the prestigious watch making firm will be displayed at Baselworld 2014.
The Grönefeld Parallax Tourbillon features a “flying” tourbillon with a large central seconds hand, stop seconds, a power reserve- and winding-setting mechanism indicator. The in-house movement displays sophistication and craftsmanship at the very highest level.
The flying tourbillon allows full appreciation of the concentric, rhythmic “breathing” of the balance hairspring, while ensuring high precision. Bart and Tim Grönefeld further highlighted the tourbillon by raising it out of the movement and above the dial.
As with the immaculately finished movement bridges, the tourbillon cage is crafted in stainless steel. Three days are required just for the hand finishing of the tourbillon components.
The large central seconds hand evidences the precision of the Parallax Tourbillon. Normally a central seconds hand requires a friction spring to prevent small fluttering caused by play in the gear train.
For the Parallax Tourbillon, the Grönefeld brothers developed the movement with an added pinion and wheel so that the energy-sapping friction spring is not required. This feature improves power transfer to the regulator and contributing to the impressive power-72-hour power reserve.
Parallax
The name “Parallax” is derived from the precision of the readability of the central seconds hand. Parallax is defined as the apparent change in position of an object when the observer changes his own position. To minimize the possibility of error due to parallax when viewing the seconds hand from an angle, the hand is exceptionally close to the outer chapter ring with the seconds indexes. In a neat addition, the one-armed balance wheel bridge always runs parallel to the central seconds hand.
Push-only crown and function indicator
In addition to the flying tourbillon and friction-spring-free central seconds, the Parallax Tourbillon has yet another innovative feature: rather than pulling the crown to set the time, which has the risk of damaging the fragile crown stem, it is pressed. An indicator on the dial displays the function selected: “W” for Winding or “S” for time setting. 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 (or hack) while the time is set.
The ability to set the time to the exact second makes the Parallax Tourbillon potentially more accurate then the vast majority of tourbillons on the market today. Once the time is set and the function set to winding by a simple press of the crown, both the seconds hand and tourbillon cage start running simultaneously and in parallel.
Solid silver dial
The solid-silver dial of the Parallax Tourbillon is composed of seven individual components. 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 scintillating reflections of light. Flame-blued steel hands for the hours, minutes and seconds ensure that the time is as legible as it is precise.
Stainless steel bridges
Bart and Tim Grönefeld only use stainless steel bridges for their movements. As well as the superior hardness and durability of stainless steel compared to the more generally used steel and brass, the metal absolutely gleams when polished to a mirror finish.
And as stainless steel does not oxidize, the gleaming finish lasts and lasts. However, achieving superlative finishes in stainless steel is no easy task: polishing the hard metal takes a master watchmaker up to four times longer than more commonly used brass.
The Parallax Tourbillon is available in a red gold or stainless steel case 43mm case. Ensuring the exclusivity of this exceptional timepiece, the red gold model is a limited edition of 28 pieces and the “1912” stainless steel model is a limited edition of just 12 pieces.
Technical details
Collection: Parallax Tourbillon
Editions
The Parallax 1912 is a limited edition of 12 pieces in stainless steel
The Parallax RG is a limited edition of 28 pieces in Au750 red Gold 5N
Features and indications
Flying one minute Tourbillon
Hours and minutes
Central seconds
Power reserve and Winding-Setting indicator
Innovative Winding-Setting Mechanism with Hacking Seconds
In-house caliber G-03
Case
Stainless Steel 316L(4335) or Au750 red gold
Engraving 1912: 1912 and individual number in relief. Limited 12 pieces. Stainless steel security screws
Engraving RG: Parallax and individual number in relief. Limited 28 pieces. Serial number. Gold security screws
Case dimensions: 43 mm x 12.5 mm
Sapphire crystals: Top domed with anti-reflective treatment both sides; flat display back with antireflective treatment on both sides
Water resistance: 3atm/30m/100 feet
Crown: Steel or gold with engraved “G” logo and push to set/wind function
Dial
Solid Sterling Silver 925, Frosted surface with diamond cut bevels
Hours- Minutes dial, power reserve indicator, setting-winding indicator
Raised seconds dial to minimalize a parallax error
Hands: Flame-blued steel extended Lancette hands and hand polished centers. Large counter poised seconds hand
Strap and buckle
Hand-sewn matte blue or brown alligator leather and steel or gold tang buckle with engraved Grönefeld logo
Movement
Caliber G-03: Mechanical hand winding, flying one-minute stainless steel tourbillon, power-reserve indicator, hacking seconds and setting mechanism indicator.
Dimensions: 34mm (15 1/4 ’’’) x 9.5 mm
Number of parts: 278
Number of jewels: 27 jewels set in solid gold chatons
Power reserve: 72 hours
Balance wheel: 10 mm free sprung balance wheel Balance frequency: 21’600 vph / 3Hz
Balance spring: Phillips terminal over-coil curve, Geneva-style stud. ELINVAR spring by Nivarox®
Escapement: Straight Swiss lever escapement
Main Plate: Hand spotted rhodium-plated nickel silver
Bridges: Stainless steel and beveled an polished by hand, micro-blasted, circular grain on the top, relief engraved on micro blasted surface
Winding-Setting mechanism: Push function crown for selecting winding or setting
Power reserve mechanism: Classic Breguet style by means of a cone moving up and down on the threaded barrel arbor
