To mark its 13th anniversary on 11 November 2021, the Moritz Grossmann Manufacture unveiled an exquisite blue color version of the BACKPAGE. This new horological marvel brings the exceptional design of the “mirror-inverted” calibre 107.0 to life in an ensemble of deep blue, polished steel and gold elements. The timepiece is available in a platinum case and comes in a limited edition of 13 pieces worldwide.
The Moritz Grossmann BACKPAGE series was launched in March 2018 in two precious metal versions: Rose gold and Platinum. Limited to 18 pieces, the platinum variant boasts a completely new design by making the signature mechanical highlights of the manufacture calibre – such as the Grossmann balance, the balance cock hand-engraved with floral motifs, and the 3-band snailing on the ratchet wheel – visible on the dial. The small seconds display also enjoys a prominent position thanks to the extravagant bearing for the second hand featuring a gold chaton.
In 2020, the Manufacture introduced BACKPAGE Transparent, in which the precision-mechanical ensemble was accented by a sapphire crystal printed with indices and numerals.
Launched in 2021, the new variation of the BACKPAGE dispenses entirely with numerals and indices and adds an expressive colour, the BACKPAGE Blue. Thanks to a wafer-thin layer of metal oxide, which is applied with nanometric precision of 1 millionth of a millimetre after finishing the components, all frame parts are resplendent in a deep blue hue.
The colour is durable and resistant to environmental influences, possessing a unique brilliance that creates a charming contrast to the gold-plated gear wheels, the gold chatons, the polished steel hands crafted in the manufactory, the carefully bevelled and polished screw heads and the ratchet wheel embellished with a 3-band snailing finish.
An innovative coating process is employed on the surfaces of all the frame parts, resulting in a fascinating interplay of light and colour that enhances the beauty of the mechanism.
The calibre 107.0 was designed by Moritz Grossmann to attain this expressive visual impression on the front of the dial. While at first glance it may seem to be a mirror image of the calibre 100.1, it is actually based on a new technical approach. An additional wheel between the crown wheel and the ratchet wheel reverses the entire drive train with respect to the rotation of the mainspring barrel. The wheel train runs in the right direction thanks to the mirrored escapement and the mirrored oscillation system – also including the balance spring coiling direction.
The larger dimensions of the 2/3 plate necessitated design changes for the balance cock and the escape-wheel cock. The cantilevered geometry of the escape-wheel cock creates a balanced accent in the overall arrangement of the movement. The exceptionally luxurious high-artistic finish of the two components is fascinating with its masterly handcrafted engravings, chamfers and bevels.
To achieve the desired presence of the winding wheels on the dial side, the dial train was reconfigured. The artistically finished train wheels were arranged beneath a highly polished and bevelled minute-wheel bridge. Since in this case, the hand-setting mechanism is located on the opposite side of the movement, the setting wheel extends all the way through the calibre. The new arrangement created space for the optimised barrel bearing and the ratchet wheel, which was also shifted to the front side.
Even though the front mesmerises with a deft display of carefully selected components, the view of the back is equally captivating. One of the highlights here is the functional sequence of the winding mechanism, which is openly integrated into the wheel bridge. Almost all of its components are mirrored in order to guarantee their function even when mounted in the opposite position while ensuring the position of the lever remains unchanged.
The stop-seconds and stop-balance functions have also been redesigned. In the hand-setting mechanism, the brake position is sampled at the clutch lever and, via a push rod, transferred to the brake spring, which then stops the balance. After the pusher is activated and the movement starts, the brake spring returns the push rod to its rest position.
This new timepiece is worn with a dark blue strap made of hand-stitched alligator leather.
Technical details
Model: Moritz Grossmann BACKPAGE Blue Limited Edition
Reference: MG-003108
Movement
Manufactory calibre 107.0, manual winding, regulated in five positions
No. of parts: 230
Diameter: 36.4 mm
Height: 5.0 mm
Jewels: 24 jewels, 11 gold chatons, of which 7 in screwed chatons
Escapement: Lever escapement
Oscillator: Shock-absorbed 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: 14.2 mm, frequency: 18,000 semi-oscillations/hour
Power reserve: 42 hours when fully wound
Functions
Hours, minutes and subsidiary seconds with stop second, Grossmann manual winder with pusher
Operating elements
Crown in platinum to wind the watch and set the time, pusher in platinum to start the movement
Case
Three-part, platinum
Diameter: 41.0 mm
Height: 11.35 mm
Crystal/display back: Sapphire crystal, anti-reflective coating on one side
Hands
Manually crafted from steel polished
Strap
Hand-stitched alligator leather with prong buckle in platinum
Special features
Balance staff with integrated safety roller, location of the impulse pin in the balance (Glashütte style); index adjuster with Grossmann micrometer screw; plate movement with 3/4 plate on dial side, frame pillars and separately removable clutch winding mechanism; visible hand setting train on the back side of the movement; frame parts in German silver with metal-oxide coating; raised gold chatons with pan-head screws; ratchet wheel with stopwork on the modified spring barrel bearing with a gold chaton in the ratchet wheel; dial train wheels spoked and bevelled, beneath polished bridge
Edition
Limited edition of 13 watches worldwide
