Introducing: The Gronefeld 1941 Principia

October 18, 2018

After success with complicated watches featuring tourbillons, dead-beats, and remontoires, Dutch manufacture Gronefeld has introduced its simplest, least complicated watch to date. The 1941 Principia features a 226-part movement that is powered by a uni-directional winding mechanism weighted by a 22k solid gold full-sized rotor. This is the first automatic watch made by the independent watchmakers and it is named after their father's birth year and Sir Isaac Newton's studies on the "Philosophi? Naturalis Principia Mathematica." The watches themselves boast the high-end finishing that we expect from the Gronefelds and also allow the buyer to pick and choose the type of dial they want (light blue, turquoise, salmon, or cream lacquer) with an assortment of straps. The case, which is shared with the manually wound, far more complex 1941 Remontoire, houses an entirely new caliber that lacks a dead-beat, remontoire, or tourbillon, making this the most approachable of all Gronefeld products yet. Initial Thoughts This is a strong follow up to the award-winning 1941 Remontoire first introduced three years ago.?The 1941 Remontoire has been praised by many enthusiasts as one of the most impressive movements to be produced in modern watchmaking, not to mention it is among the most complex time-only watches ever produced. Our team has a special love for Bart and Tim Gronefeld, and earlier this month, the HODINKEE Shop launched a limited edition version of the remontoire with a special, closed, salmon-colored dial C the only examples of that model with such a dial and updated movement that lowered the remontoire governor deeper into the movement. The 1941 Principia has the same aesthetic appeal and allows the buyer to choose what they like, all while enjoying a brand new automatic movement with the same high-end hand-finishing that the brothers are known for.?You don't get a remontoire anymore, but with a price about 15,000 euro below the original 1941, Gronefeld hopes the Principia will open up a door to a whole new set of buyers. Consider this a competitor to the Laurent Ferrier Galet Micro-Rotor, for example. The Basics Brand: GronefeldModel: 1941 Principia Diameter: 39.5mmThickness: 10.5mmCase Material: Red gold, white gold, or stainless steelDial Color: Solid sterling silver 925 in turquoise, light blue, or salmon; cream lacquered dial Indexes: Roman numerals, indexesWater Resistance: 3 atmospheres, 30 meters, 100 feetStrap/Bracelet: Selection of colors in a variety of leathers The Movement Caliber: 1941 PrincipiaFunctions: Time onlyDiameter: 32mmThickness: 5.5mmPower Reserve: 56 hoursWinding: AutomaticFrequency: 21.6 vibrations/hourJewels: 31 Pricing & Availability Price: EUR 29,950 for the stainless steel, EUR 37,300 for the red gold, and EUR 38,750 for the white gold.Availability: NowLimited Edition: NoFor more click here.