Moritz Grossmann HAMATIC – The First Automatic Watch by Moritz Grossmann

Moritz Grossmann presents HAMATIC, the first automatic watch from the renowned German watch manufacture. Available in rose gold and white gold, this timepiece is equipped with an Automatic hammer winding system that reveals a peek of the intricate mechanics.

The first automatic watch from Moritz Grossmann draws its kinetic energy from an external source. A pendulum-style hammer weight skilfully uses the energy generated through the wearer’s movements to transfer it via the ratchet wheel to the mainspring in the barrel, meaning that an external energy source makes the dream of infinite motion come true. It’s therefore safe to say that the HAMATIC is one of the most beautiful and complex examples of would-be perpetual motion.

Once upon a time, most people moved around on horseback or by foot. Both riding and walking mean that the person is subjected to a constant upward and downward movement. The engineers behind the world’s first automatic watches in the 19th century exploited this fact by using a pendulum in the shape of a hammer with a heavy head to harness all of the kinetic energy generated through movement.

The engineers at Grossmann deliberately returned to the traditional concept in order to keep the fascinating mechanics of the Grossmann movement visible. In the form of an elaborate, intricately finished frame that is open in the middle, the body of the hammer provides a stage for the hammer spring and striking gold hammer head. The calibre 106.0 complete with its hammer-style pendulum system can thus be seen at work through the sapphire crystal display back.

The bidirectional automatic hammer mechanism guarantees high energy efficiency with consistent winding power. This results in a highly precise and reliable movement. A power reserve of 72 hours is available when fully wound.

The hammer’s centre of mass is further away from its rotational axis than with a central rotor. This results in a high torque, which in turn caters for powerful winding. Thanks to the special ratchet mechanism, hammer movements from just five degrees can be used to wind the mainspring.

The calibre 106.0 was especially designed for the HAMATIC. This classic pillar movement has a Grossmann plate with six Glashütte stripes. Through the interplay of the hammer body together with head and spring, the automatic hammer mechanism works in both directions. A sapphire roller transfers the oscillation between hammer spring and hammer body.

Two basic scenarios need to be covered by this system in a reliable and energy efficient manner – very fast movements and the more gentle deflection. The former generate excessive deflections, which need to be attenuated and limited by fixed end stops. This is ensured by intricately crafted end springs in the hammer frame. If the movements are gentler with low hammer amplitude, energy transmission is nearly loss-free.

In order to convert the energy into a continuous rotary motion, the oscillations of the hammer body are picked up by two click levers. The two-way direction of rotation of the click wheels ensures an even rotary motion, which is transferred tothe free wheel via the reduction wheel and then to the ratchet wheel in the mainspring barrel.

The automatic winding system is complemented by a manual winder designed as a yoke winder that is mounted on a separate bridge. The yoke ensures that the manual winder is always uncoupled from the ratchet wheel when the HAMATIC system is active in response to motion. In manual winding mode, the reduction gear is isolated from the ratchet wheel by a click-pawl idler. The HAMATIC also offers a stop-second function via the balance for ultra-precise time setting.

Large, intricately finished Roman numerals adorn the dial, the design of which is reminiscent of the historical pocket watches by Moritz Grossmann. The hands are another nod to the historical models. The hour hand stands out thanks to its pear shaped tip, while the minute hand moves round the scale in a needle-like, slender design.

Once again echoing the design of Moritz Grossmann’s pocket watches, the hour and minute hands are extremely delicately crafted and measure just 0.1 mm in width at the narrowest point. At its tip, the second hand is no more than five hundredths of a millimetre. The hands are manually crafted in the manufactory and annealed over an open flame to achieve the distinctive Mortiz Grossmann brown-violet hue.

Technical details

Model: Moritz Grossmann HAMATIC

Versions

Rose gold model: Reference: MG-002302
Case: 750/000 rose gold
Dial: Opaline with Roman numerals
Hands: Manually crafted, steel, annealed to a brown-violet hue

White gold model: Reference: MG-002303
Case: 750/000 white gold
Dial: Opaline with Roman numerals
Hands: Manually crafted, steel, annealed to a brown-violet hue

Movement
Manufactory calibre 106.0, automatic winding, regulated in five positions
Movement dimensions -Diameter: 36.4 mm, height: 5.15 mm
No. of parts: 312
Jewels: 38, of which 3 in screwed gold chatons
Escapement: Lever escapement
Oscillator: shock-resistant Grossmann balance with 4 inertia screws and 2 poising screws, Nivarox 1 balance spring with No. 80 Breguet terminal curve, Gustav Gerstenberger geometry
Balance – Diameter: 10.0 mm, frequency: 21,600 semi-oscillations/hour
Power reserve: 72 hours when fully wound

Functions
Hour and minute, small second with stop seconds

Case
Three-part, in 750/000 gold
Operating elements Crown in 750/000 gold for winding the watch and setting the time
Case dimensions Diameter: 41.0 mm, height: 11.35 mm
Crystal/display back: Sapphire crystal, antireflective coating on one side

Dial
Solid silver, opaline with printed Roman numerals
Hands: Manually crafted from steel, annealed to a brown-violet hue

Special features
Grossmann balance; click pawl in reduction gear; adjustment with Grossmann micrometer screw on cantilevered balance cock; pillar movement with 2/3 plate and pillars made of untreated German silver, hand-engraved 2/3 plate and cantilevered balance cock; wide, horizontal Glashütte ribbing, double-band snailing on the mainspring barrel; raised gold chatons with pan-head screws; separately removable clutch winding mechanism; stop seconds for hand setting; automatic winding with oscillating hammer, bidirectional click wheels; idler with pawl clicks, manual yoke winder

Strap
Hand-stitched alligator leather with prong buckle in 750/000 gold